Contact: Test kitchens
Lewis & Neale Inc.
49 East 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 420-8808
Fax: (212) 254-2452
E-mail: Supersweetcorn@aol.com

February 2000

Fresh Supersweet Corn is NOT a
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

Supersweet varieties of sweet corn are the result of traditional breeding methods. The Supersweet taste comes from the "shrunken 2" gene naturally isolated during the 60's. The shrunken 2 gene allows the corn to be sweeter at harvest and remains sweeter for an extended period of time.

Currently, Supersweet growers are experimenting with GMO crops on a very limited basis. In fact, there are no commercial plantings of GMO sweet corn today. Yet, this technology can have a significant positive impact on growers, consumers and the environment. Until consumers readily accept GMO crops, Fresh Supersweet corn growers will continue NOT to plant or sell GMO sweet corn varieties.

Genetic modification of the gene pool of crops has taken place ever since the caveman stopped wandering the earth and began gathering seeds in the fall to plant next spring. Today, through modern technology, we can breed into plants a wide range of desirable characteristics such as nutritional benefits (higher vitamin and essential nutrient content), ability to withstand environmental stresses (crops that can grow with less water and fertilizer), and pest resistance (a plant's ability to ward off insects, weeds, or diseases).

As with several other crops, modern seed companies have also developed a genetically modified organism (GMO) sweet corn variety that has all the good quality characteristics of supersweet corn plus the ability to ward off certain insects (primarily worms). This GMO supersweet corn variety will have a major impact on farmers, consumers, and the environment. Growers will be able to reduce their chemical crop protection usage resulting in a more favorable environment. Reduced insecticide use will also reduce production costs so that the price of corn may be less. This would be a win/win for everyone - farmers, consumers, and the environment.

Recent publicity has caused Supersweet growers to all but eliminate their experimental usage of GMO sweet corn varieties. The current backlash against GMO crops, no matter how important the characteristics, is a huge risk for farmers. For example, some buyers (e.g. supermarket chains, food manufacturers, etc.) will no longer purchase GMO crops. Some European countries will not accept GMO crops or products that have been made with GMO crops. In some case the fears are consumer driven, in other cases the prohibitions are more closely related to trade barriers protecting domestic industries. In either case, growers can't risk not being able to sell their crop.

The GMO sweet corn variety currently under development will contain a gene that causes the plant to produce a natural insect toxin Bacillus thuringensis or Bt. Bt is a natural bacteria routinely used by farmers to control worms. In fact, since Bt is a naturally occurring bacteria, it has been approved for use by organic growers. One of the issues in the news lately about Bt GMOs is their potential effect on the Monarch butterfly. First, the single experiment that showed a limited impact was a laboratory test where the butterfly's only food source was pollen from a Bt plant. Second, Monarch butterflies, when given a choice in their natural environment, prefer to use other food sources for nourishment. And third, the natural migration on Monarchs is through the central U.S. and therefore not even found in the southern U.S. In references to Bt "corn" in the media, the "corn" is field corn, not sweet corn.