On October 9th the Assembly State and Local Government Committee passed the GMO labeling bill, moving us one step closer to making labeling the law in NJ. NOFA-NJ Founder, Stephanie Harris testified as a voice for our farmer members. it was an exciting day!  New Jersey farmers concerned about their livelihoods joined legislative leaders to call for passage of the bill by the full legislature on the 14th  when NOFA-NJ in collaboration with Food & Water Watch, released the Farmer’s for Labeling letter signed by farmers across the state supporting the GMO labeling bill, refuting assertions made by the agribusiness industry that New Jersey farmers are opposed to legislation.

On a sadder note, the week ended with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approving Dow Chemical’s new “Enlist Duo” herbicide which is a mixture of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup) and the even more toxic chemical 2, 4-D of “Agent Orange.” By the EPA’s own estimation, approval of “Enlist Duo” will lead to an unprecedented 2 to 7 fold increase in its use. The use of 2, 4-D in New Jersey is a scary thought. It is known to drift for miles once sprayed and has the potential to wipe out nearby specialty crops, such as blueberries and tomatoes; New Jersey’s largest agricultural commodity.