We share the concerns over GMO corn and the sale of genetically engineered crops at our local farmers markets, as expressed by Jesse Arnold in his March 7 letter.

No matter where you stand in the ongoing debate on the potential health risks of GMOs, the risks they pose to conventional and organic farmers, issues like the creation of “super weeds,” loss of organic certification due to pollen drift, prosecution for “theft” of a corporation’s patented gene and loss of effective organic pest control are indisputable.

We pointed this out to the management of the SLO Farmers Market last August. We received no reply.

It is difficult to avoid these products when processed and placed on supermarket shelves; it shouldn’t be difficult at farmers markets. It would behoove our local farmers markets to implement a policy barring the sale of genetically engineered food until such time as federal regulators require a determination of the potential long-term health and environmental impacts of any GMO prior to allowing it on the market, which they currently do not.