What can growers who signed the Safe Seed Pledge tell you? Here’s more about it.
Maryland is a society of relatively health-conscious people. Although people differ, many look for food that is non-GMO and produced ethically and sustainably. It is the best kind of food, after all, and delicious! Baywater Farms in Salisbury, Maryland, seeks to grow fresh vegetable produce in these ways, and one part of accomplishing that is to sign the Safe Seed Pledge. What is the Safe Seed Pledge, you ask? Let’s take a look at this interesting subject.
What Is the Safe Seed Pledge?
The Safe Seed Pledge states the following:
Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. (End quote.)
The Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG) established the Safe Seed Pledge in 1999 to combat the growing number of patents on GMO products. It helps connect natural seed growers with gardeners and farmers looking for such seeds, as well as growers to consumers concerned about GMOs.
What Is a GMO and Why Is It Bad?
GMO is short for “genetically-modified organism.” It refers to produce with synthetic components that do not occur in nature and does not include the cross-breeding of varieties. The health effects of GMO produce are unknown, but it does not appear that it offers more health benefits than non-GMO produce.
One of the biggest concerns that genetically-modified crops yield is higher pesticide and herbicide usage. Growers have to use much more weed and pest control to grow these crops, and those chemicals are likely poisonous and cancer-causing.
Genetically-modified organisms make their way into livestock feed, crops to produce oil, sugar, and other goods, and fruit and vegetable seeds, just to name a few applications.
Find Non-GMO Produce from Baywater Farms!
Transparency about GMOs is hard to come by in the United States, but at Baywater Farms, we are committed to growing non-GMO produce through hydroponics and other efficient farming methods.
BAYWATER FARMS HAS THE RIGHT PRODUCE FOR YOU
Baywater Farms is a family-owned and operated farm servicing Baltimore, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware beaches, and the Eastern Shore. We are capable of meeting the demands of your produce distributor, restaurant produce supplier, CSA produce supplier, or wholesale produce supplier while maintaining the integrity and character of a small farm. When you work with Baywater Farms, you work with an experienced, ethical, and local farm dedicated to providing the highest-quality heirloom produce.