Good Fruit Grower

October 2013

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Initiative 522 would harm Washington farmers and food producers Initiative 522 would put Washington family farmers and food producers at a competitive disadvantage by increasing their production costs and record-keeping requirements. These regulations would impact all Washington farmers, regardless of whether or not they grow genetically engineered (GE) crops. That's just one reason why major agricultural organizations across the state, including the Washington State Farm Bureau and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, are urging a "NO" vote on I-522. "This initiative would mislead consumers by mandating special food labeling requirements just for our state that would provide no health or safety benefits. I-522 would not make our food any safer, but it would make food more expensive." Dan Newhouse, Former Director Washington State Department of Agriculture Groups Urging NO on 522 Washington State Horticultural Association Washington Growers Clearing House Association Yakima Valley Growers - Shippers Association Washington State Farm Bureau Chelan/Douglas County Farm Bureau "In order to monitor and enforce its burdensome food labeling requirements, I-522 would create a costly new state government bureaucracy. It would also expose Washington family farmers and food producers to a whole new class of frivolous, shakedown lawsuits." Vicki Malloy, Western Region Representative American Farm Bureau, Women's Leadership Committee Yakima County Farm Bureau Association of Washington Business Northwest Grocery Association Benton County Farm Bureau Washington Friends of Farms & Forests Franklin County Farm Bureau Washington Retail Association "I-522 would end up increasing production costs of Washington farmers and food processors for what is essentially an unnecessary law. Consumers can already choose foods made without genetically engineered ingredients by simply buying foods labeled 'organic' or 'non-GMO.'" Rick Adams, Apple Orchardist, Retired Agriculture Teacher Okanogan County Farm Bureau Skagit County Farm Bureau Northwest Food Processors Association Grant County Farm Bureau Far West Agribusiness Association Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives "I-522 would burden Washington farmers with increased regulatory red tape and bookkeeping requirements, regardless of whether they grow GE crops or not, which would drive up food costs for Washington families." Mike LaPlant, President Washington State Farm Bureau Representing 42,000 local farmers, ranchers & member families Washington State Dairy Federation Whatcom County Farm Bureau Washington Association of Wheat Growers Snohomish County Farm Bureau Western Washington Agricultural Association Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association *Titles and affiliations for identification purposes only (partial list) Learn more at FactsAbout522.com This voter information paid for by NO on 522, P.O. Box 7325, Olympia, WA 98507. Top five contributors: Grocery Manufacturers Association, Monsanto Company, DuPont Pioneer, Dow AgroSciences LLC, Bayer CropScience. www.goodfruit.com Good Fruit Grower OCTOBER 2013 7

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