GMO products to be labeled at Bloomington farmers' market

GMO stands for genetically modified organism and means a plant or animal that has been modified, in a laboratory setting, to contain genetic material from a plant, animal, bacterium or virus. These modifications do not occur naturally or through traditional cross-breeding methods. GMOs are typically developed to create plants that are hardier or more resistant to pests and diseases, or to create plants that can tolerate herbicides.

GMO sweet corn has been sold at the farmers’ market for the past 10 years, according to Marcia Veldman, market manager. There are also GMO zucchini and yellow crookneck squash that have been sold at the market. For the 2016 season, Veldman said, there are currently three vendors who have indicated they will be selling GMO produce — two selling sweet corn and one selling zucchini. This year, there are a total of 126 farm vendors who have signed contracts to sell items at the market, Veldman said. “Other than putting up prices, this is the only requirement for signage,” Veldman said.

Market officials provided farmers with the names of every seed variety that is a GMO seed to ensure that if it’s GMO produce, it will be correctly labeled. Both produce and plants derived from GMOs must be labeled. The labels must be easy to read, clearly associated with the produce and use the phrase “GMO Crop” in letters at least 11/2 inches in size.

“The main reason for the labeling is we felt there was a high level of interest from customers,” Veldman said. “It’s just being transparent.”

In June and July 2015, the IU School of Public Health surveyed 204 customers at the farmers’ market about labeling GMO foods being sold at the market, with 77 percent wanting the labeling.