Non-GMO Project Outreach Coordinator Camille Frazier

Since beginning work full-time as the Outreach Coordinator in mid-May (after a semester as an intern), I’ve been excited to get going on my biggest project: the “Supporting Retailer Program.” While my other recent tasks, such as sending letters to organic seed producers and emailing Canadian distributors, are just as engaging, the Supporting Retailer Program is the culmination of my first month and a half of work. So I’m excited to say that after a long period of thoughtful consideration, cost-estimates, and excel spreadsheets, the Supporting Retailer Program is off the ground and running!

Last week I began contacting retailers across the nation letting them know about the Program, which started as part of the Project’s push for retailer support in preparation for the fall, when the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal will begin to appear on packaging. With over 400 products enrolled, many retailers will see the Non-GMO Project Verified seal on their store shelves. Thus it is critical that we cooperate closely with retailers in our outreach efforts, as the Project relies on retailers as an essential link to consumers.

By becoming a Supporting Retailer with a donation of $150, retailers can publicize their support of the Non-GMO Project with buttons, stickers, and a large, 2’ by 3’ poster that reads, “Supporting Retailer” with the Project’s logo beneath. In addition, Supporting Retailers will receive frequently updated PDFs and training materials sent directly to their inboxes so that they can keep their customers, employees, and themselves up-to-date on the GMO issue. For more detailed information or to sign up as a Supporting Retailer, please click here.

So far, reception of the Program has been extremely positive! Within the first week, we enrolled 8 stores as Supporting Retailers (you can search for and identify these stores on the “Search Retailer Endorsers” page), and we expect this number to grow exponentially! Many retailers are excited to hear that they can finally refer their customers to reliable non-GMO options. Although not everyone has money in the budget to make a donation during these tough economic times, retailers are actively engaged in working with the Project to ensure that their customers have a choice when it comes to GMOs. It’s exciting to speak with so many retailers who are interested in and enthusiastic about the Project, and I know that this interest will only keep growing as the Non-GMO Project looks forward to the fall.

There are hundreds more retailers yet to contact, and I’m excited for all of the conversations and collaboration ahead!

This label, which includes info about the Project and a link to our website, will begin appearing in stores this November

As the Non-GMO Project moves into a stage of active public outreach and education, we’re excited by the support of companies like Guayaki, who are doing everything they can to help spread awareness about GMOs and the Non-GMO Project, including promotion on their label. Guayaki recently enrolled all of their bottled mate products in the Project’s Product Verification Program, and the “Non-GMO Project Verified” Seal will start appearing on labels this fall. In addition, Guayaki has is printing a 2″ x 2″ information panel on their best-selling “Pure Mind” mate, which they hope will lead to greater awareness about the Project’s efforts to secure North American’s right to clearly labeled, indpendently-verified non-GMO food and products. As Guayaki Creative Director Steven Karr said, another perk of being promoted on the “Pure Mind” flavor, besides its popularity, “is that the mate combined with Gingko and Tulsi makes people clear headed, so they’ll really understand your message about clean “clear” food.” We hope so!

The seminar and tour take place Saturday, July 11th, 2009. For more info, contact info@grainplacefoods.com

Click here to download a PDF flyer for the event.

Project Excutive Director Megan Thompson with Board President Michael Funk (of UNFI) at The Organic Summit, and with Board Member Joe Dickson (of Whole Foods) at All Things Organic

It’s been a busy season for the Non-GMO Project! Since a jam-packed meeting schedule and presentation at Expo West we have visited with retailers in Austin, San Antonio, Seattle, and Portland, hosted a Round Table at the Organic Summit in Stevenson, WA and participated in a panel at the All Things Organic Conference in Chicago. Moving into summer, the pace shows no sign of slowing, but we aren’t complaining!

It’s exciting to see awareness growing not only within the organic and natural products industry, but also among consumers. For over two years, we have been working diligently to find creative solutions to the challenges posed by GMO contamination. Our focus has been the creation of an industry-wide collaboration within which we have created North America’s first consensus-based non-GMO Standard, as well as an innovative Product Verification Program to assess compliance with the Standard. All this hard work is paying off, and a “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal will start appearing on retail products this fall. For the first time, the North American public will have access to an informed choice about consuming GMOs. This was the vision of the founding retailers of the Non-GMO Project, and it has taken a tremendous amount of dedication to get us to this point. We’re now ready to start spreading the word, and early response has been quite encouraging!

A Non-GMO Project Facebook page has created a platform for some of our initial outreach. Membership has more than tripled in the last week, with over 1300 fans now tracking our progress, and we expect that fan base to keep growing exponentially as people reach out to their friends about the exciting work of the Project. With the launch of our new website on June 22nd, we are starting a Consumer Pledge campaign, and we are also moving into a phase of renewed connection with our retailer base with the creation of a Supporting Retailer Program.

The success of the Non-GMO Project is a heartening example of what is possible with enough determination and collaborative spirit. Together we can ensure that North Americans have non-GMO choices, now and long into the future. We’re grateful to you for doing whatever you can to help support this undertaking, and we look forward to sharing more good news as the summer progresses.

(Posted by Megan Thompson, Non-GMO Project Executive Director and passionately conscious eater)

Please click here to review a pdf of the Non-GMO Project Standard with comments inserted and changes tracked.

Please note that the Board of Directors is soliciting specific feedback on proposed changes to section 1.2.1.5 (page 5), sections 4.5.1-3 (page 24) and variance #10 (page 30). Questions on each of these proposed changes are inserted as comments in this document, and are highlighted in turquoise.

To submit comment (including responses to the Board’s questions), please click here.

Topics will include:

• Recent studies on GMOs demonstrating lower crop yields, connection to GMO consumption and decreased fertility and other health risks, development of herbicide resistance “superweeds,” and more.
• The liability GMO contamination poses for our industry in a climate where consumer trust is more essential than ever.
• The action increasing numbers of manufacturers, growers, processors, and retailers are taking through the Non-GMO Project.

Don’t miss this important opportunity to be part of the dialogue on what is arguably the most pressing current issue for our industry!

From 8:30 am to 10 am, join us for a GMO Information Session, Lakeside Center, McCormick Place, Level 2 (Room TBD).

From 10:30 am to 12 pm, ATO presents a panel entitled “GMOs: To test or not to test” in Room E351.

Speaker(s):
Dag Falck – Nature’s Path Foods Inc., Katherine DiMatteo – Wolf, DiMatteo + Associates, Lynn Clarkson – Clarkson Grain Co., Inc., Megan Thompson – Non-GMO Project, Moderator: Phil Margolis – Neshaminy Valley Natural Foods Distributor, Ltd.

If you’re attending the Conference and would like to schedule a meeting with the Non-GMO Project, please contact us.