Monsanto, a large global corporation that produces or has produced various agricultural products (pesticides, hormones in raising animals, and genetically modified soybeans, corn and other crops), and chemicals such as Agent Orange, Roundup, and PCBs, has plans to move into the Tucson area (1.5 miles away from Marana High School) and is seeking a 66% tax break (also known as “Project Corn”) from the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

On Friday, January 6, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., concerned citizens of Pima County present a free screening of The World According to Monsanto at Green Fields School Auditorium, 6000 North Camino de la Tierra (just south of Orange Grove Road in northwest Tucson).

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Gluten- and GMO-free food guide for baking

Ask the Nutritionist

by Melissa Diane Smith

Q: I avoid sweets most of the year, but like to bake occasional treats for my family during the holidays. I eat gluten-free but I also want to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to protect both my health and the environment. I recently noticed that some gluten-free flours contain common sources of GMOs. Can you provide a rundown on ingredients that are both gluten-free and non GMO foods that I can use in baking? —Beth W., Kansas City, Kan.

A: As you mentioned, many gluten-free baking mixes contain ingredients that are derived from common genetically modified foods such as corn, soy, and sugar beets—cornstarch, cornmeal, soy flour, sugar, fructose, xanthan gum, and others.

While you can find Non-GMO Project Verified versions of gluten-free flour blends, I recommend avoiding them altogether—even if they’re non-GMO—because gluten-free flours such as cornstarch, rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato flour raise blood sugar levels very high, which sets people up for blood sugar- and insulin-related health conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.

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Five open public meetings about chemical giant Monsanto’s plans to develop property in Pima County for the purpose of developing experimental corn and experimental soybean with experimental chemicals will take place in a two-week period in January, yet many people who live in Pima County know nothing about them. Learn what you need to know in preparation for the meetings at a “Stand Up Against GMOs and Pesticides” presentation at Natural Grocers on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 6 p.m.

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Planning on going to the Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting at 130 W. Congress Avenue at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13th, to keep the pressure on the supervisors and tell them to vote NO on the outrageous proposal to give Monsanto a tax break? Although the tax break for Monsanto is not on the meeting agenda, the public can still speak about it, and we want the board see that the public is not going to leave this issue alone!

If you plan to go, here are some things you should know:

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by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against GMOs

It’s the festive holiday season—no better time to recreate non-GMO Pure Food Dinners in Tucson!

I am pleased to say that I planned the first non-GMO Pure Food Dinner in the summer of 2012, and every single one of the dinners that I helped organize and that our group offered was extremely popular.

Fast forward to today: In less than two months, the Tucson community has done an amazing job of standing up against Monsanto in Pima County, and new people are joining the movement every day! So, I thought teaming up with GMO Free Arizona and offering a few non-GMO dinners during the holidays was a perfect way to thank the people of Pima County for all their efforts so far and to keep the movement going strong.

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The weather has become chilly, making it the perfect time to grab a quick organic coffee or a leisurely coffee with interactive conversation and sharing of information with other citizens who are concerned about Monsanto’s proposed plans in our community.

This Organic Coffee & Conversation event will take place at San Giorgi’s Coffee, 6435 N. Thornydale Road, this Saturday, December 3, between 1 and 3 p.m. San Giorgi’s is an independent family owned coffee shop in northwest Tucson that not only offers organic and fair trade coffee and tea but also organic milk, coconut milk, or almond milk to add to your drinks.

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The Community Pushes Pima County to Delay a Vote on Monsanto Tax Incentives; What’s Coming Next?

by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against GMOs

Headline and photo from the November 23 online version of the Arizona Daily Star

The people of Pima County emphatically told the Pima County Board of Supervisors at its board meeting on November 22 that they do not want multinational chemical corporation Monsanto in the Tucson area. A few hundred people attended the meeting, and many held yellow signs that read “Say NO to Monsanto.” There were more than three hours of statements from more than 50 speakers, and virtually everyone who spoke opposed Monsanto’s plans to build a facility in Avra Valley. The eclectic tidal wave of opposition persuaded the board to delay its vote on a tax incentive for Monsanto.

For more coverage of this story, see the Arizona Daily Star article, “Pima County Delays vote on Monsanto Tax Incentives,” and the KGUN 9 news segment, “Outcry Leads Pima Supervisors to Delay Monsanto Decision.”

Grassroots Power

At the meeting, a few children spoke out against the corporation. One woman described Monsanto as a Trojan horse, trying to give gifts now so Pima County would bring in the corporation and then Monsanto would destroy our community from within. Ida Drucilla “Dru” Heaton wore a lei in honor of her Hawaiian heritage and what the Hawaiian people have experienced at the hands of Monsanto.

The collective arguments against Monsanto melded beautifully together and pushed the board away from greenlighting a tax break for Monsanto. Instead, the board unanimously agreed to delay the vote until its meeting on February 21, 2017. The board also agreed that five open public meetings—one in each district—will take place about Monsanto and its proposed plans before that date.

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