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and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page, and
our Millions Against Monsanto page.

“They had closed door meetings in Washington, D.C., where we were not invited. We were told, ‘You are not a stakeholder.’ We’re the largest organic consumer organization in the U.S,” says Ronnie Cummins, director of the OCA. “If we’re not a stakeholder, who is?”

Both Stonyfield and Organic Valley contend, however, that they have been extremely active in the fight against GE alfalfa, and had little choice but to push for the USDA’s “conditional deregulation coexistence” option for the crop, or deregulation along with certain safeguards for the organic community.

“As reasonable people, we just have to deal with the game plan that was laid out,” says George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley. As it became increasingly obvious that a ban on GE alfalfa was off the table, Stonyfield and Organic Valley opted to fight for whatever safeguards they could get–and they never negotiated with Monsanto.