I was really disappointed when I opened my daily news email theSkimm this morning. There’s always a feature at the end, which often defines a common acronym. GMO is a pretty commonly used acronym and many can’t explain what the letters stand for, so it was bound to come up some time.
Here’s the definition from theSkimm on February 5, 2015:
And here’s a more accurate definition:
GMO: Stands for “Genetically Modified Organism.” A GMO plant is bred as a result of plant scientists identifying one desirable trait (like natural resistance to a certain insect) and breeding it into another species of plant. Do you like papayas? You can thank GMOs.
Unfortunately, theSkimm didn’t exactly hit the definition on the mark. In fact, they probably unintentionally confused a lot of people about what a GMO really is.
Here’s the low-down on GMOs:
- There are only 8 species of plants that have been genetically modified and are commercially available: corn, soybeans, alfalfa, papayas, sugar beets, cotton, squash, and canola.
- 2/5/2018 edit: There are now 10 genetically modified foods available in the U.S. We’ve added the non-browning Arctic apple and a variety of Simplot potatoes, which have better tolerance for cold storage, bruise less, and resist late blight, which is the disease that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s.
- Natural pest resistance helps plants fight off pests on their own. This means that fewer pesticides are needed. And when they are used, they are sprayed on crops in the amount of ounces per acre. Read more about why farmers use pesticides.
- This pest resistance means that there is less damage to crops throughout the growing season, which means higher yields and healthier plants.
- GMO plants aren’t injected with genes. These genes (also referred to as “traits”) are bred into the plant’s existing DNA.
- For more information, check out GMOAnswers.com.
So why do we have “freakishly red and big” strawberries available in the winter months?
Strawberries, along with many fruits and vegetables, are grown in warm climates. So in the colder months, grocery stores have them shipped from warmer climates. This could be from another state or another country.
In fact, most of our fruits and vegetables year-round come from other states and countries. Some places are better suited to growing certain types of crops than other places. For example, lots of oranges come from Florida rather than Michigan because Florida has the warm environment year-round that orange trees like. Those trees wouldn’t survive a Michigan winter. We also demand some fruits and vegetables year-round, whether or not they’re actually in season. So while you can buy strawberries from Michigan in the spring or peaches from Illinois in the summer, they usually come from warmer climates (like California, Mexico, or South America) when they’re out of season in the Midwest.
Check out my blog post Keeping It Local if you want to learn more about why all food isn’t grown locally.
Now you know why we have bright red, delicious strawberries in the winter. It’s always great when mainstream media talks about what’s going on in the agriculture and food industries, and I’m looking forward to more ag and food definitions from theSkimm in the future. : )
Great post Gracie!
Thanks!
I believe that Monsanto has, and always will be,in the business of making things that are found to kill and do harm to many types of life. There is a reason for being the most hated company on earth.
Round-up, DDT, Agent Orange, saccharin, etc. , are not products to be proud of manufacturing.
And how can a company put a patent on seeds? i would say lots of souls have been sold.
Hi Sandi,
I’m not sure what this comment has to do with the post?
As far as companies patenting seeds…it makes sense. They spend a lot of money breeding these seeds to reach their full potential during the growing season. With the nature of hybridization, saving seeds for the next generation would not be in a farmer’s best interest, even if the seed were not patented. The next generation would not perform at the same level.
Monsanto is not the only company that does this- there are actually several large companies that breed and patent seed. Speaking on behalf of a family that farms, we will continue to purchase seed like this and we will sign the contract and abide by the patent.
If you have questions about the post above, please feel free to ask : )
Thanks,
Gracie
Why are all the large companies you reference in your reply also chemical companies? Patented seeds force farmers into compliance because of pollination from fields nearby, through no fault of their own. Do you think that is justified? Your desire to work in agri-related PR means you will constantly be spinning negative press into seemingly positive stories, like strawberries in the winter. I’d trade my winter strawberries for GMO labels any day. Good luck with your career, you will not be short of work.
Hi Ashley,
I don’t know of any farmers that have broken their contracts or been affected by cross-pollination between GM and non-GM plants. My family chooses what type of seed and what brand we would like to plant every year, and are more than happy to sign the contract in order to have access to the best seed.
If you prefer to not consume GMOs, that choice is entirely yours to make. We live in a country where we are fortunate enough to have many options at the grocery store. However, fresh produce in the off-season has nothing to do with GMOs.
And thanks! I am looking forward to my career in agriculture. I’m really hoping that I’ll end up back on a farm one day, but in the meantime I feel fortunate that I’m able to work in a field that I’m interested in.
Great post Gracie! I want to respond to the comment from Sandi.
Getting a patent on seeds and plants is hardly a new practice, and certainly not limited to biotech companies. For example, many varieties of perennials have been patented. I personally know of a nursery/greenhouse operation that holds 200+ patents on plants developed via traditional plant breeding processes.
Furthermore, when talking about products developed by Monsanto it’s almost silly to lump glyphosate into the same catergory as DDT and Agent Orange. Both of those products were developed 50-60 years ago. Glyphosate is not toxic to humans, despite all the misinformation one can find on the internet claiming that it is, and it does not build up in the soil. DDT actually did a lot of good when it was used properly, by controlling malaria. Those of us living in the US never had a real appreciation for how miserable dealing with malaria is. I read Rachael Carson’s “Silent Spring” when I was a freshman in high school for cryin’ out loud. By today’s pace of change that makes it ancient history. Agent Orange was developed by our federal government not Monsanto. Monsanto produced it for the federal government.
It seems to me that you are interested in learning more. I strongly recommend websites/blogs such as GMOAnswers.com, TheGeneticLiteracyProject, Biofortified.org, Sleuth4Health, and Nurse Loves Farmer, in addition to Gracie’s, of course.
Not true…. There’s not only 5 GMO’s… if that was true, I’d be happy….
There’s now GMO potatoes, and GMO apples coming aboard.
God, stop twisting the facts.
Hi Sarah,
As it says above, there are 8 GMOs that are commercially available at this time: corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets, alfalfa, paypayas, squash and canola. While the GMO potatoes and apples look promising, they are not yet on the market.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have directly related to this post, but for more specific information I invite you to visit GMOanswers.com.
I just bought some strawberries that are almost the size of a small apple. Is that normal?
Totally normal and definitely possible depending on the variety. 🙂 We tend to see smaller strawberries in the store based on consumer demand and timing of the season. Smaller strawberries are easier to eat and pack a little better in the container than larger strawberries, although I do normally see bigger ones available at Aldi in the summer.