Valley farmers fear 'modified' wording in Prop. 37

The Valley's edible crops are grown without genetic engineering, but farmers here still fear a ballot initiative aimed at labeling food that has been genetically modified, saying it could make it harder to sell their products.

Farmers are battling Proposition 37 because they say it hurts business and exposes them to possible lawsuits.

Supporters of the November California ballot measure argue that consumers have a right to know whether the food they are buying has been altered using genetic technology. Many crops grown nationwide, including corn, soybeans and canola, have been tinkered with to resist chemicals, bugs or drought.

But Valley farmers say the proposition has some unintended consequences that could increase costs and hurt their ability to sell even non-genetically engineered crops.

As part of Prop. 37, retailers will be required to label products that have genetically engineered ingredients. That means stickers or labels on many common grocery store items, including cereal, cake mixes and cookies.

But products that are exempt, including those that are not genetically engineered, need to be verified by either the wholesaler, food maker or farmer.

Growers believe that could mean more paperwork -- and potential lawsuits by consumer groups if they don't do it right.

"In addition to the substantial record-keeping that we already do, we will have to provide sworn statements proving that we do not have genetically engineered peaches," said Karri Hammerstrom, who farms 40 acres of peaches and plums in Kingsburg with her husband, Bill. "And if we don't do that, we could be sued."

Hammerstrom also is troubled by wording in Prop. 37 that could limit farmers or processors from using the word "natural" when selling products.

The proposition bans the use of the word "natural" or any variation of that in the labeling of genetically engineered foods. But the state's Legislative Analyst's Office said that the way the proposition is written, there is a possibility that the ban could apply to some processed foods regardless of whether they are genetically engineered.

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Valley farmers fear 'modified' wording in Prop. 37