Eviction Action Against Ventria G.E. Rice

Take Action: Wednesday May 26 at noon in Sacramento to protect California farmers and our food supply

Help us deliver an eviction notice to Ventria Biosciences on May 26th for recklessly threatening the California rice industry and thousands of California Rice Farmers with its genetically engineered "pharmaceutical rice". We will ask Ventria to find a new home (somewhere off the planet) and offer them the use of our free moving crew to help pack up.

Who: Organic Consumers Association, True Food Network and concerned Californians

When: Wednesday May 26, 2004 at high noon

What: We will arrive at Ventria's corporate headquarters with an eviction notice, a moving truck and a moving crew to help the company move out of its current premises.

Where: Ventria Corporate Headquarters 4110 N Freeway Blvd Sacramento (detailed directions below)

Background: Ventria is a Sacramento based corporation involved in the development of genetically engineered (GE) "pharmaceutical rice". Also known as pharm crops, these plants are engineered to produce drugs for humans or animals. The company's pharm rice has been genetically engineered to produce two pharmaceutical proteins, lactoferrin and lysozyme, commonly used as anti-microbials and anti-diarrheals. In April 2004 Ventria's request to expand their acreage of the GE rice was refused by the California Department of Agriculture. Many farmers are concerned that the inevitable contamination of their crops from Ventria's rice could destroy foreign markets which they have worked hard to build up. Food companies and consumers are also worried that this rice could end up in the food supply. You can read more at http://www.calgefree.org

Directions : Here is a link to the location of Ventria's headquarters which is located near Northgate Blvd and 80 in Sacramento.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&formtype=search&countryid=250&addtohistory=&country=US&address=4110+n.+freeway+blvd+&city=sacramento&state=ca&zipcode=&historyid=&submit=Get+Map

From San Francisco and Davis - Take 80 to Northgate blvd. Take a slight left to take the Northgate Blvd North Ramp. Turn left on Northgate Blvd for 0.6 miles. Turn left on N. Market Blvd for 0.1 miles and then another left on N. Freeway Blvd for 0.5 miles. Ventria is located at 4110 N. Freeway Blvd

Please Join us on May 26th and help build the growing movement to keep GE crops out of California.

Please bring a friend, any moving equipment you have (dollies, packing tape, boxes) and of course, colorful signs like:

" No Drugs in our Food"
"Californians Want Ventria to Leave our Food Supply Alone"
"We Want Safe Food"
"Move on Out Ventria"
"Time to Go Ventria - Your Rice is Unsafe for California"
"Ventria = Hazardous to California's Rice Farmers"
"Dear Ventria: it's time to go!"
"EVICT THEM NOW: Stop destructive and negligent practices by Ventria"
"Ventria Could Care Less about Rice Farmers in California"
"So long Ventria - We're better off without your Business!"
"Pharm foods are unsafe for California!"
"Give Ventria The Boot"
"Just say no to pharmaceuticals in your food!"

For more information, and details on carpooling please call 415-561-2523 or email ryan [at] organicconsumers.org or heather [at] geaction.org