Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/401644
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER NOVEMBER 2014 21 Fortunately, so are our crop insurance agents. Like everyone else at Northwest Farm Credit Services, our crop insurance agents live and breathe agriculture. They're immersed in it every day. That's a tremendous advantage when you consider the nature of complex, ever-changing insurance programs. Fact is, risks abound – from adverse weather to a drop in market prices – and you need an insurance partner with expertise, knowledge and commitment, every step of the way. Give us a call today. Your only risk is waiting. nor thwestfcs.com | 800.743.2125 THE ARE GREAT PERILS Gary Olson Insurance Agent This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. "We don't endorse specific products, but I believe the benefit it provides would be attractive to many consum- ers. I would encourage the apple industry to stand for choice as well as the science. "By opposing use of approved biotechnology traits, some in the industry are effectively surrendering to the activists and making them stronger—letting the shrill voices of a few deny benefit to many. If apple pie is Amer- ican, appeasing a vocal minority to avoid a perceived problem is certainly not. "And of course opposing use of this trait will box the industry in the corner for the next beneficial trait that comes along, as well as many other potential improvements." Attitudes change Consumer attitudes have shifted over the years the surveys have been taken. On food safety, for example, disease and food con- tamination were the greatest concern in 2008, coincident with several food contamination events. Today, only half as many list it as their first concern—18 percent in 2014 compared to 38 percent in 2008. In general, consumers' food safety concerns are less focused than they were in 2008. Biotechnology was listed as a concern by 1 percent of those surveyed in 2008, a number that increased to 7 percent this year. Biotech awareness Since 2008, Americans' awareness of biotechnol- ogy has not increased much. About 60 percent say they know a little bit about it; nearly 30 percent say they know nothing at all about it. But the group that says they know a lot about it is growing slowly and has risen from 8 percent to 11 per- cent. In general, twice as many mothers of children say they've heard a lot about biotech foods than non-moms. There was an even split between consumers who said they generally favored use of biotechnology and those who did not—about 28 percent each. The "not favorable" category has been gradually increasing since 2008. In general, young people under 35—the Millenni- als—have more favorable views toward food biotech- nology than older people. Every year, more people become aware that foods produced using biotechnology are actually in supermarkets today. "Awareness of biotech foods in the supermarket is much higher than in 2008," Schmidt said. Still, more than 60 percent of shoppers don't know when they are buying biotech foods. Asked if they approved of using biotechnology to increase nutrition or health-related benefits, two-thirds of consumers said they'd buy such foods. They liked the idea of using biotechnology to provide more healthful fats and improve vitamin content, reduce potential for carcinogens, protect foods from insect damage while using fewer insecticides, getting higher yields using less land and water, keeping food prices stable, and feeding undernourished people around the world. • David Schmidt