Contact the White House - Don't Let Lobbyists Weaken New Organic Dairy Standards

From the Cornucopia Institute:

Farmers and consumers concerned with the integrity of organic dairy farming need to contact the White House (IMMEDIATELY) and urge the President to support a strong pending standard governing organic livestock and dairy management practices.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is nearing the end of its critical review of proposed new regulations clarifying the requirement that dairy cows and other ruminants consume a meaningful amount of feed from pasture and grazing. Powerful factory farm interests opposed to the rule - who want to continue to principally confine animals in feedlot style operations - have privately met with OMB officials and are seeking to weaken the new rule.

Click here to visit the Cornucopia Institute's website, find out how to contact the White House and read more: www.cornucopia.org

Update your address contest winners!

Thanks to all the members who have updated their contact information either on-line or in-store! All of you we're entered into the UPDATE contest for a chance to win 1 of 10 $25 Co-op gift cards. Below are the names of the winners. If you haven't already, stop by the membership desk inside the store to pick up your gift card. Congratulations!

January 2010 UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS contest winners:
Maureen Redmond
Bob Thomas
Melvin Yee
Mark Hardy
Ellen Haden
Penny Jennings
Marlene Frantz
Lou Frederick
Monica Smirnoff Levin
Sachiko Kato

Tell the USDA You Care about GE Contamination of Organic Food!

In 2006, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) sued the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its illegal approval of Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa. The federal courts sided with CFS and banned GE alfalfa until the USDA fully analyzed the impacts of the plant on the environment, farmers, and the public in a rigorous analysis known as an environmental impact statement (or EIS). USDA released its draft EIS on December 14, 2009 and their preliminary determination is to once again deregulate GE alfalfa without any limitations or protections for farmers or the environment, claiming that there is no evidence that consumers care about GE contamination of organic foods! A 60-day comment period is open until February 16, 2010.

Please take the time to visit the Center for Food Safety's website to voice your opinion on genetically engineered foods.

Go here: http://ga3.org/campaign/alfalfaEIS