California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has organized several GE-free education and dialogue events to be held around the state, with Percy Schmeiser speaking. Schmeiser is the Canadian farmer whose canola fields were contaminated with GE seed, and who in turn was sued in 1998 by Monsanto. Monsanto claimed the Schmeisers were illegally growing the company's patented GE technology, RoundUp Ready Canola, in their fields. But Schmeiser and his wife Louise were yet another victim of unwanted GE contamination, and they decided to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court. The Schmeisers never wanted the GE seed to enter their crop fields in the first place, and they have been sharing their story ever since.

The tour will be Co-Hosted by Sheana Davis of The Epicurean Connection, and it will bring to light Percy’s story of his ongoing struggle and court appeal with the agri-chemical and GE giant corporation Monsanto. Special guest speakers include Dr. Ignacio Chapela (UC Berkeley), Michael Pollan (author, Omnivore’s Dilemma), Peggy Miars (CCOF Executive Director), Sheana Davis (The Epicurean Connection), and Britt Bailey (Environmental Commons).

Tour dates include Monday, November 13th in Santa Cruz; Tuesday, November 14th at UC Berkeley; Thursday, November 16th in Sonoma; Friday, November 17th in Ukiah; Saturday, November 18th in Pt. Arena/Manchester. Flyer All programs begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Donation requested is $10 (except for UC Berkeley, which is free), and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds from these events will go directly to the Schmeisers' efforts to fight Monsanto and GE contamination, as well as to educate the public and farmers alike about the severe risks associated with GE crops.

Audio: "They [Monsanto] tried to do everything to destroy us"

Percy Schmeiser's website | Californians for GE-Free Agriculture | Sheana Davis's website | CCOF's Percy Shmeiser page | California Certified Organic Farmers