By Jane Sandwood, guest contributor.
If you are interested in the growing heritage or rare fruits and vegetables, you are probably aware of the new trends in the food industry towards GMO labeling. While saving wild fruit gene pools is oftentimes the mission of heritage gardens, it is also essential to pay attention to the way you market and sell your produce to a consumer market that is increasingly seeking organic labels. This desire is largely a result of President Barack Obama signing a GMO labeling bill into law in 2016.
For gardeners or farmers who grow heritage produce want to be able to label the products USDA Certified Organic, there may not be any genetically modified ingredients in the food items. In doing so, you can then label your products non-GMO, GMO Free, and so forth. Federal law now gives food companies the option to claim GMO ingredients in several different ways, such as providing a QR code or website with additional information on their packaging.
In time, this may advance the heritage foods movement, as labeling a food item non-GMO results in 87% of consumers believing the produce is healthier. Additionally, 55% of people think that genetically modified produce are more detrimental to the environment. Knowing these statistics, it is clear is that food growers and manufacturers will need to focus on transparent labeling to ensure that their products are trusted.
To learn more about the laws and restrictions on your organic heritage products, see this guide to organic and GMO labeling.
If you are interested in the growing heritage or rare fruits and vegetables, you are probably aware of the new trends in the food industry towards GMO labeling. While saving wild fruit gene pools is oftentimes the mission of heritage gardens, it is also essential to pay attention to the way you market and sell your produce to a consumer market that is increasingly seeking organic labels. This desire is largely a result of President Barack Obama signing a GMO labeling bill into law in 2016.
For gardeners or farmers who grow heritage produce want to be able to label the products USDA Certified Organic, there may not be any genetically modified ingredients in the food items. In doing so, you can then label your products non-GMO, GMO Free, and so forth. Federal law now gives food companies the option to claim GMO ingredients in several different ways, such as providing a QR code or website with additional information on their packaging.
In time, this may advance the heritage foods movement, as labeling a food item non-GMO results in 87% of consumers believing the produce is healthier. Additionally, 55% of people think that genetically modified produce are more detrimental to the environment. Knowing these statistics, it is clear is that food growers and manufacturers will need to focus on transparent labeling to ensure that their products are trusted.
To learn more about the laws and restrictions on your organic heritage products, see this guide to organic and GMO labeling.