California Judge Orders Destruction of Genetically Modified Sugar Beets

According to AP News, A federal judge in California has ordered that plants grown to produce seeds for genetically modified sugar beets be removed from the ground, citing the potential for environmental harm.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White has again raised questions about the use of genetically modified crops and what will happen if growers aren't allowed to plant GMO seeds.

About 95 percent of the sugar beet crop has been genetically modified to resist the weed killer Roundup. The crop provides roughly half of the nation's sugar supply.

In his decision, White cited, "a significant risk of environmental harm."

Counterfeit Produce - Farmers Market Fraud

The California farmer's market industry has taken a hit recently as the Los Angeles Times reported on alleged food sourcing fraud.

According to latimes.com "The largest operator of Southern California farmers markets has protected a vendor who buys produce wholesale and misrepresents it as his own, alleged one of the company's managers, who made the claim at a listening session held by the California Department of Food and Agriculture last week in Santa Monica. The operator has denied the allegation, but the repercussions seem likely to reverberate in the farmers market world."

Read the full article here:

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-marketwatch-20101105,0,3946012.story