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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Fetzer Vineyards today endorsed the citizen-led effort to make Mendocino County the first county in the nation to ban the growing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The endorsement from such a wine industry world leader underscores that GMO agricultural products are so poorly understood, untested and risky that they are not ready to be introduced into the environment or the food chain. "Fetzer doesn't proclaim to know all the answers in the GMO debate,” said Fetzer spokesperson James Caudill. “However, as Mendocino County's largest winery and the U.S.'s organic vineyard leader, Fetzer supports Measure H as appropriate action until such time as the long-term consequences of genetically modified crops and animals in the food chain are fully understood." With today’s endorsement, Fetzer leads the way in what will become a trend in the industry as wine producers find consumers don’t want genetically modified wine -- and neither do export markets. Just last week, Mendocino County’s Roederer Estate was asked for assurances by their German wine distributor that Roederer’s wine did not contain GMO grapes. Fetzer has helped put Mendocino County on the international map as an outstanding wine-growing region. In addition to Fetzer’s conventional wines, which are found all over the world, the vineyard farms more than 2,000 vineyard acres organically, making it the largest grower of certified organically grown grapes in California and one of the largest in the world. Measure H will help protect Mendocino County’s expanding organic market while offering insurance that the "clean" reputation of Mendocino’s agricultural products – both organic and conventional – will remain intact. “We feel strongly that organics is an important part of the system we have committed ourselves to in our long-term farming practices here in Mendocino County,” said Fetzer’s President Paul Dolan. “And GMOs have the potential to threaten that position.” Fetzer Vineyards was founded in 1968 by the Fetzer family in rural Mendocino County, California, and has been part of Brown-Forman Wines since 1992. Fetzer has long been an environmental leader in the wine industry and has helped establish industry standards for organic farming, sustainable business practices and waste reduction. "Fetzer is naturally making the right choice again,” said Katrina Frey of Frey Vineyards. “They've always been a forward thinking company and are recognizing the economic boost Measure H will bring to Mendocino products." Fetzer and Frey join a growing contingent of conventional and organic Mendocino County vintners that insist on preserving the quality and reputation of their products. This group also includes: Roederer Estate, the Graziano Family of Wines, Handley Cellars, Yorkville Cellars, Jeriko Estate, Ceago Vine Garden and Maple Creek Winery; Mountanos Vineyard, Peterson Vineyard, Butow Organic Vineyard and Sozzoni Bros; Hubert Germain-Robin of Redwood Valley's Germain-Robin, makers of world-renowned brandy and cognac, Dan Fetzer and Jim Fetzer. Measure H bans the growing of GMO plants and animals in the county. It does not affect livestock feed. Consumers could still buy GMO-containing foods at the supermarket and Measure H does not affect biotechnology in medicine, or the sale of such medicine in the county. ######## |
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Hotline | Contact Us VOTE YES ON MEASURE H MARCH 2 P.O. Box 1139, Ukiah, CA 95482 Campaign for a GMO Free Mendocino County - #1258121 |
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