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Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

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A Nod of Appreciation to the Girl Scouts

March 5, 2015

While there is a lot going on right now that deserves comment, I cannot pass up the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate an organization that decided to stand up to the fear-mongering and bullying tactics of anti-GMO groups.

Of course, I’m referring to the Girl Scouts of America.

Unfortunately, I never got to be a Girl Scout; I don’t think we had a local group at the time (or maybe my mom just didn’t know about it). I usually only recognize that it’s time for the annual Girl Scout cookie sale because upon the kitchen table at work there appears an order form for cookies. Everyone buys at least a box to be nice, but this year there was even more reason to support the Girl Scouts cookie sale.

Taking advantage of the perfect timing, anti-GMO activists chose to target everyone’s favorite cookies. An online petition (which I will not link to) was started, requesting that Girl Scouts remove all GMO ingredients from their cookies, or the fine folks signing the petition would refuse to buy the cookies. The petition now has a cool 40,000 signatures. The petition itself featured a little Girl Scout, no doubt encouraged by her parents, claiming that she wanted cookies that were GMO-free. (Sorry, but something just feels wrong about using a little girl to push your anti-science agenda.)

Of course, as part of an orchestrated effort, anti-GMO groups jumped into the mix by encouraging followers to boycott purchasing the cookies. GMO Inside (a radical anti-GMO group with ties to the National Organic Action Plan) encouraged followers to buy organic carrots instead. The rhetoric included the same old, tired lies about the supposed dangers of GMO’s (even though lots of studies have been done debunking those same, tired old lines).

But I’m very happy to tell you that there is no reason in the world that we need to boycott Girl Scout cookies — because the organization didn’t cave into the fear-mongering!

Enjoying my Girl Scout cookie in celebration!

Enjoying my Girl Scout cookie in celebration!

On the organization’s website, the FAQ section features a question asking whether Girl Scout cookies contain GMOs. This is the awesome answer:

At the current time, there are genetically modified agricultural crops (GMOs) in Girl Scout Cookies. Our bakers determine whether to use GMOs in Girl Scout Cookies based on a range of market-related factors and depending on the specific cookie recipe.

Girl Scouts recognizes that many people have concerns regarding GMO ingredients, and we monitor member and consumer opinion on this matter. It is important to note that there is worldwide scientific support for the safety of currently commercialized ingredients derived from genetically modified agricultural crops. The World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the American Medical Association all share this assessment. In addition, in the future, GMOs may offer a way to help feed an ever-increasing world population.

Yes, that’s right – the Girl Scouts are standing by sound science and not bowing down to the anti-GMO activists. In a world where more little girls should be encouraged to pursue careers in science and math, Girl Scouts definitely made the right decision! Don’t you just love that they not only acknowledge that genetically engineered crops are safe and cite all the world authorities that agree, they also indicate that biotechnology is an important tool in meeting future food demands?

So, I’d like to officially congratulate and thank the Girl Scouts for standing with scientists and farmers. Thank you!

thanksGSA

Additional Sources: USA Today and GLP.

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Filed Under: Biotechnology, Marketing Tagged With: farm meme, gmos

Comments

  1. Karen says

    December 29, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Too bad GSUSA has a decidedly animal rights bias to their remaining animal badges. Too bad also that like the majority of the badges these days, there is a decided lack of skills and knowledge to the requirements.

    Given how little of the cookie money goes to the troops and how much the focus of the official GS program has shifted to cookie sales, there are plenty of reasons not to buy the cookies. Just make a donation to a troop of you want to help out, and buy yourself better cookies elsewhere.

    • Nope says

      December 30, 2015 at 11:08 pm

      There are no better cookies elsewhere.

    • Lukas says

      December 31, 2015 at 9:56 am

      I don’t get it. What’s wrong with supporting animal welfare? The only thing I can possibly think of is that they talk about animal testing, but from what I’ve seen, they don’t take a stance against animal testing, but ask girls to investigate the topic, talk to people with opposing viewpoints, and even visit a lab if they can—I think those are great things to do for anyone.

      Also, congrats to the Girl Scouts for this response.

  2. Name* says

    December 31, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Worldwide support? What about the 26 major countries that have banned GMOs in some way?

    • Amanda says

      December 31, 2015 at 11:17 am

      They haven’t banned GMOs…. https://gmoanswers.com/ask/how-many-countries-ban-gmos

  3. Sarah Lungren says

    January 21, 2016 at 10:02 am

    Thank you for your support of farmers and not going non-GMO

  4. Patty Sayler says

    January 21, 2016 at 10:22 am

    I love your cookies. Do not cave to fearmonging and blackmail.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

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thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. I took Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. 

I took this photo over the weekend. These beans should be turning yellow and drying for harvest. So why aren't they? Because...the spring drought.

Seeds need water to germinate. But after we planted we didn't have rain for weeks. So those seeds just sat in the dirt and never sprouted. Then, finally, it rained. And the tiny plants started popping up.

The problem? It was several weeks too late for planting. The question is whether they'll be ready to harvest before the snow flies. We have shorter seasons in Michigan, so it'll be close.
Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍 Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍
💜💜 💜💜
Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purch Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. It all counts.

#modernagriculture #foodproduction #usfarmers #usagriculture #usfarms #food #knowyourfarmer #knowyourfood #modernag #farms #sustainableagriclture #sustainablefarming
I visited one of my favorite local farm stands ove I visited one of my favorite local farm stands over the weekend. I thought I'd buy a couple zucchini and cantaloupe. But the zucchini looked more like clubs, and the cantaloupe was too ripe for my taste. So I passed on those and bought some tomatoes that maybe cost more than I would have preferred.

But you know what I didn't do? I didn't complain about the zucchinis' size. I didn't fuss about the melons' ripeness. I didn't criticize the tomatoes' price. Instead, I smiled at the lovely lady and made small talk as I paid and went about my day. 

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Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa! #nationaldogda Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa!

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