Garden Seeds and GMO?

 I watched a video on Instagram yesterday about how seed companies are labeling their packets "non-GMO," and how meaningless that is.  I've known that for quite a while, but going by the comments on that video there is a lot of confusion, false information, and honestly, downright refusal to consider it, due to belief in some sort of conspiracy within the government.  

So, what's the truth?  Should you only buy from companies guaranteeing their seeds to be GMO free?

Here's the truth.

 There are NO seeds you can buy that will be GMO!  

Well, if you are involved in big agriculture, and grow commercial crops, then you can, but I don't think you are.

But... what about those seed companies that say "No GMO.  Never Have.  Never Will."?   What about those that don't mention GMO at all?

Doesn't matter.  One big seed company began the trend, and worrying about sales, the others followed along.  Frightened, and uninformed gardeners, bought into it, and bought the "non GMO" seeds.

The photo above shows packets from three sources, prices ranging from 25 cents to $4.  All state they are non-GMO, which of course they are.  My seeds from other sources arrive in little baggies, seed name, no other information.  They too are non-GMO.  My seeds off eBay ordered from strangers are non-GMO as well.

What ARE GMO?  In the U.S. only alfalfa, canola, cotton, maize (field corn), soybeans, sugar beets, summer squash, potatoes, tobacco, papaya, and a few apples.  Why?  In the case of papaya, they are cultivated in Hawaii, and in the 90's the crop was nearly destroyed by a virus, endangering the entire industry there.  A GMO papaya was developed that resists the virus. Many GMO crops are resistant to insects, or herbicides.  Others, like in the case of papaya, are resistant to viruses (potatoes, squash).  GMO tobacco contains reduced amounts of nicotine. 

A few other crops are GMO in other countries.  Australia has GMO carnations, Bangladesh eggplants, and China papayas.  Some roses are GMO too, for color.  A few apples have been modified to resist browning after cutting.

One of the comments was under the impression they might get GMO seeds in error, since farmers "save seed."  Even if it wasn't illegal to save GMO seeds (in the contracts), it just isn't done.  We're talking 96,000,000 acres in the U.S. of maize.  There is no feasible way seed could be saved to replant that!  Even in the "old" days, farmers would buy seed corn, in bags, every year.  Saving seed is for small farms and backyard gardeners.  

GMOs are not new.  Insulin was developed using GMO technology.  

In my own valley, I voted against allowing GMO crops.  Not that I don't think they have their place, I do, but because we have organic farming in the valley, so GMO could affect those. 

I love how the Instagramer responded to a comment today.

"It's like tagging carrots... contains no beef."

Oh, in case you don't know, and I've found many don't, GMO only means "Genetically Modified Organism."