DARK Act update

This article was originally published in September 2015

Thank you to the many PCC members and shoppers who contacted their Congressional representatives and asked them to vote no on HR 1599, commonly known as “Deny Americans the Right to Know [DARK] Act.” H.R. 1599 would nullify three state laws to label genetically engineered (GE) foods and preempt mandatory GE labeling nationwide. It also would allow GE foods to be labeled “natural.”

We expected the bill to pass the House. The good news is that coordinated advocacy efforts, including the PCC Advocates e-newsletter, were successful in encouraging your Washington state U.S. Representatives who were undecided to vote no.

The final showdown comes as the Senate introduces its own version. Sign up for PCC Advocates at pccmarkets.com/enews and we’ll keep you posted on future opportunities to take action

Also in this issue

Soil & Sea: reports from our producers

Read about California almond woes, WSU testing a robotic apple picker, the egg shortage that has bakers scrambling, the threat of warm water to local salmon, and more.

News bites, September 2015

PCC eyeglass drive a success, Bacon-flavored seaweed?, Bumblebees and climate change, and more

Hot trend: raw foods

PCC shoppers are buying raw foods not just because they're made from vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains or beans, but also because they're seeking foods with minimal added sugars, fats and salt. When these foods take the form of berry "Cheesecake," kale chips, or PCC's own Rockin' Raw Kale salad, what's not to love?