The ramifications of the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture are varied—some have slowly become evident over time, and some remain unknown. Hearings for HB 1172 “GMO Labeling Bill” and HB 1388 “GMO Liability Bill” are scheduled to be held this Thursday in Concord, NH, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association–NH Chapter (NOFA-NH) invites the public to help build support for these bills. If you can describe why GMOs are bad for our health, are concerned about GMO seeds contaminating organic crops, or simply believe in the right-to-know in seed labeling, then your oral testimony—or written statement—is requested!

WHAT: Public hearings for HB 1172 “GMO Labeling Bill” and HB 1388 “GMO Liability Bill” (read more in ADDITIONAL INFO below and in links)

WHEN: Thursday, 2/11/2010, at 11 am (HB 1388) and 1 pm (HB 1172)

WHERE: Legislative Office Building (LOB), Room 308, 22 North State Street, Concord, NH

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: If you can’t attend the hearings on Thursday, submit your written statement for the record. Comments to the House received by email are not included in the permanent record, so please email statements to Elizabeth Obelenus of NOFA-NH (info@nofanh.org), and she will print out the required copies and submit them in person at the hearings on Feb. 11 as official testimony.

• HB 1172 (GMO Labeling Bill) “defines genetically modified seeds and organisms and requires that genetically modified seeds be labeled as such.” (More and more people raise their own food in NH to ensure quality and purity—and to save money. How do they know if their seeds contain GMOs if the seeds they buy are not labeled? This bill asks that the time-honored consumer’s right-to-know be extended to seed labeling.)
• HB 1388 (GMO Liability Bill) “defines genetically modified seed or organism” and “establishes a cause of action for farmers sustaining damage from the use of mislabeled or genetically modified seeds or organisms.” (Genetic drift is proving to be a huge problem for farmers that do not purposefully raise GMO crops. If a farmer’s crop becomes contaminated with GMOs through pollen drift, this bill gives the farmer the right to seek damages.)
• If you wish to testify in person or want more information about how you can participate, contact Elizabeth Obelenus of NOFA-NH at 603-224-5022 or info@nofanh.org.
• Slow Food Seacoast posted about a February 3 meeting related to these bills.
• Read an interesting recent article about GMO policy in NH in Front Door Politics.
• The House Environment & Agriculture Committee is set to make recommendations 1 week later, on Feb. 18.

Save the dates!

WHAT: 2010 Open House

WHEN: March 27 and 28, 2010

WHERE: Sugarmomma’s Maple Farm, Northwood, NH

MORE INFO: Sugarmomma’s website

Via the Seacoast Eat Local blog:

Go Green, Go Healthy Fair - February 6th in Fremont
“This free, family-friendly event will also include massage, chiropractic care, natural cleaning ideas, nutrition ideas, energy conservation tools, stress reduction services, face painting, and healthy food samples.”

Via the Seacoast Eat Local blog:

Bringing together farmers, gardeners, localvores, educators, and consumers … featuring workshops and vendors: NOFA-NH Winter Conference: “A Place at the Table”

From Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH (NOFA-NH) via the Seacoast Eat Local blog:

ACT AGAINST GENETIC ENGINEERING IN OUR STATE!

There is nothing locally grown nor heirloom about genetically engineered food. The NH localvore, slow food and organic movement can collaborate and take the first steps in discouraging the presence of genetically engineered food and products in our state.

Take part in a meeting on

Wednesday, Feb 3
6:00-7:30 PM
Blue Moon Market and Café
8 Clifford Street, Exeter, NH

to hear about two bills in the NH House Committee on Agriculture and the Environment: one to label seeds that are genetically engineered or contain genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) and the other to provide farmers the right to seek damages if their crops become contaminated by GE crops. (The Café will still be serving food if you come hungry.)

Speakers at this meeting:

• Bob St. Peter of Food for Maine’s Future, will share his experience working on the GE issue in Maine, and will brief everyone on current Maine laws regarding GMOs and past failed attempts at labeling.
• State Representative Susan Wiley and others that sponsored the bills will be present
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH (NOFA-NH)

There will also be time for an open discussion about your interests in this issue.

The hearings for the two bills are scheduled for

Thursday, February 11
Legislative Office Bldg (LOB)
Concord, NH

11 AM for HB 1388 - Compensation for contamination

1:00 PM for HB 1172 – Labeling of GMO seeds

• NH House Bill # 1388: Give farmers the right to seek damages if their crops are contaminated by genetic drift
  Genetic drift is proving to be a huge problem for farmers that do not purposefully raise crops that have been genetically engineered. If a farmer’s crop becomes contaminated with GMOs through pollen drift, the farmer can be sued by the manufacturer of those genetically engineered seed, most often by Monsanto. This bill gives the farmer the right to seek damages if genetic contamination occurs.
• NH House Bill # 1172: Label seeds with genetically modified organisms
  More and more people raise their own food in NH to insure quality, purity and to save money. How do they know if their seeds contain genetically modified organisms or not if the seeds they buy are not labeled? This bill asks that the time-honored consumer’s right-to-know be extended to seed labeling.

Please make the time to appear in person at any of these hearings, and let Elizabeth Obelenus at NOFA-NH know your plans. The many aspects as to why genetic engineering is not welcomed need to be covered at these hearings to build a strong case. For example, if you or someone you know works in the sciences and can talk from that point of view about why genetic engineering is bad for our health, or know a farmer that wants to grow sweet corn organically but wonders if their crop will get contaminated by neighboring GE corn, ask them to contact Elizabeth at NOFA. Written testimony is also encouraged.

NOFA-NH CONTACT INFO: (603) 224-5022 or info@nofanh.org.

What’s the easiest, quickest way to learn how to peel and clean your fresh NH shrimp? Watch this great, 4-minute video by Padi Anderson of the F/V Rimrack. Nothing to it - pretty soon you’ll “pull, pinch, and flip” your way to your next shrimp dinner. Or buy plenty of extra shrimp, clean as shown, and freeze for later - they defrost in a flash!

Learn how to peel, cook, store, and enjoy the delicacy that is Northern shrimp in a 2-hour workshop on February 10! Chefs from the UNH Thompson School Culinary Arts Program will demonstrate how to prepare these locally wild-harvested gems in many ways for you to taste. You will leave the workshop with recipes and educational materials so you can enjoy Northern shrimp at home.  Register online at the UNH website.

Shrimp Local, Eat Local

Date: February 10, 2010

Time: 6-8 pm

Registration fee: $10

Registration form: www.tinyurl.com/localshrimp

The New England Marketplace at One Washington Center in Dover, N.H. is seeking artisans and specialty food producers throughout New England with products for purchase to participate in a Specialty Food and Artisan Marketplace being organized in the upcoming months.
 
“We noticed a demand for specialty food producers and artisan to have an outlet to display their wares”, says Bonnie McLoud the marketplace organizer and part owner of Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus. “There are so many wonderful products hand produced in New England that do not have always have a channel to market their goods.  Many small business owners of this type do not have typical bricks and mortar storefront and we thought that this would be a great venue to offer to artisan and specialty food producers.”
 
In partnership with Washington Street Mills at One Washington Center in Dover, The New England Marketplace will offer three different event dates in the upcoming months.  The events will be held inside on the first floor of the Picker building. Vendors can attend all three event dates or choose from one of the dates based on their schedule.
 
Also organizing the event is Sheila Speckin and Kim Knight of Maine Buck Nuts. “The Picker Building is a great space to hold this type of event.  It has great windows with views of the river and there is room for 40 vendors. We want the event to be a feel good event.  Great products that make you feel good from gourmet packaged foods to a one of kind artisan works.”
 
The New England Marketplace event dates are slated for the last Saturday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. February 27th, March 27th and April 24th        
 
There will be music performed on acoustic guitar from 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. by Barry Arvin Young of Buxton, Maine.
 
Specialty Food Producers and Artisans interested in participating or who would like more information can contact Bonnie or Sheila. Bonnie McLoud 603-502-0434 Email: Bonniemcloud@comcast.net or Sheila Speckin 207 423-2854 Email Sheila@mainebucknuts.com.

A shrimp preparation and cooking demonstration workshop for February, 10th will be presented in collaboration with the UNH Thompson School’s culinary arts program.   The link for more information and to register is www.tinyurl.com/localshrimp

Shrimp Local, Eat Local Workshop
February, 10th, 2010
6-8pm
UNH Thompson School culinary Arts Program
Cole Hall Room 219

Come to this event to learn how to cook, peel and store the Northern Shrimp delicacy!  Chefs from the Culinary Program will be demonstrating how to prepare these local gems in a variety of ways for you to taste.  Leave the workshop with recipes and educational materials so you can enjoy shrimp at home!

From Seacoast Eat Local:

Fresh salad greens, spinach, and lettuce … carrots, parsnips, onions, and potatoes … locally raised meats, locally caught fish, locally made jams, jellies, breads, and teas  … New Hampshire grown Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and kissing balls — these are just some of the products that will be for sale this Saturday, December 5th from 10am-2pm at our next Winter Farmers’ Market indoors at Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford! Wentworth Greenhouses is located at 141 Rollins Road, a mile past Red’s Shoe Barn of Dover. You can find a full list of participating vendors and the products they will be selling at www.seacoasteatlocal.org

• The market is open until 2pm - If you have something else to do in the morning, want a relaxed morning, or just want to avoid the crowds, feel free to come later! Our vendors are well prepared for a large number of customers and will appreciate your business whenever you can get there!

• Volunteer! We’re still looking for a few more volunteers to help set up, provide information during the market, or clean up afterward. Volunteers come for one or two hour shifts, and play a key role in ensuring the success of the markets! Email erin@yogaonthehillkittery.com if you would like to volunteer.

It’s Buy Local Week on the Seacoast. Our friends at Seacoast Local have been organizing and promoting a wide variety of opportunities to shift your spending locally, including buying local food! Read all about their other ideas and events for buying local art, toys, and more >

Help spread the word! Forward this email, post a message on your blog/website/facebook profile, invite a friend to come with you to the market this Saturday - the more the merrier!

For more information, maps and driving directions, visit www.seacoasteatlocal.org. Please note, when coming from the west, Google maps incorrectly lists Shady Lane as a through street near Wentworth Douglass Hospital.

We hope you’ll join us on December 5th as it is going to be another amazing farmers’ market, with an abundance of locally grown and raised foods that you can feel great about buying as you’ll be supporting local farms and agriculture while enjoying safe, healthful, and delicious food!

- Sara Zoe Patterson, on behalf of Seacoast Eat Local
www.seacoasteatlocal.org
blog.seacoasteatlocal.org
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