GMO FREE MENDOCINO
YES ON MEASURE H
http://www.GMOFreeMendo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Laura Hamburg/cell 621-0906
Email: laura@bullhornrag.com

VICTORY! MENDOCINO COUNTY FIRST COUNTY IN NATION TO BAN THE GROWING OF GENETICALLY ALTERED CROPS AND ANIMALS

Despite spending $55 on each NO vote, industry-fueled opposition is crushed.

Measure H supported by 56.5 percent of voters.

March 3, 2004

Ukiah, (Mendocino County) California -- In a sweeping victory, Mendocino County yesterday (March 2) became the first county in the nation to ban the growing of genetically altered crops and animals.

Mendocino County voters defeated the world’s largest producers of genetically engineered foods and seed, which pumped a record $621,000 into a county of 47,000 voters.

Under the guise of CropLife America, Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical and a consortium of other biotech multinational corporations shattered spending records in this small agricultural county.

But CropLife America was no match for thousands of Mendocino County farmers, business owners, vintners and families who joined the largest, most successful grass roots campaign the county has ever seen to fight the encroachment of genetically altered crops.

“These multi-billion dollar corporations underestimated the savvy and determination of Mendocino County voters,” said Els Cooperrider of Ukiah, a retired medical scientist and Ukiah business owner who helped spearhead the citizen-led initiative. “This is just the beginning of the revolution,” she said. “We’re the first county in the U.S. to prohibit the growing of genetically altered crops and animals -- but we won’t be the last.”

Mendocino County’s victory has already inspired nine other California counties to enact similar measures.

In addition, Mendocino County’s victory is part of a coast-to-coast act of defiance against the corporate stranglehold of America’s farmland, as farmers from California to Vermont, Maine and Hawaii and the Midwest band together to reject genetically altered crops.

“Our victory in Mendocino County is a simply the catalyst for counties all over the nation to protect their agriculture, food system and local economy,” said Doug Mosel, spokesperson for the Yes on Measure H campaign. “ No amount of money can replace the love and commitment of people who care passionately about the place they live. This is a turning point in the corporate domination of the food system and a reclaiming of responsibility for agriculture at a local level.”