Connecticut needs Rhode Island’s help. And by helping our neighbors in the nutmeg state, we would also be helping our own economy and creating a healthier, more sustainable food supply for Americans everywhere.
Connecticut recently made big national news for passing the first ever law requiring Frankenfoods be labelled as such. For foodies, this is the most critical political battle being fought between slow, local family farmers and genetically engineered, corporate-controlled agriculture.
But Connecticut’s landmark labeling law only takes affect after four other states pass a similar law. And at least one of them has to share a border. That means it’s up to us, Massachusetts or New York to make this happen.
Let’s have Rhode Island be the next state to pass this important legislation.
Rep. Ray Hull of Providence has introduced this bill. The bill is co-signed by progressive Rep. Art Handy of Cranston, Republican Antony Giarrusso of East Greenwich, conservative Democrat Karen MacBeth of Cumberland and moderate Democrat Joe Scherkachi of Warwick. That’s a pretty much touches the entire RI political spectrum.
Because of our compact size and wealth of great restaurants and innovative young family farmers, this is an obvious area of our economy that Rhode Island should be working hard to grow. High-quality, local food is one of most attractive reasons to come to the Ocean State over, say, Maine, which passed a GMO labeling bill yesterday similar to Connecticut’s. Not to mention that farmers won’t ditch us just because another state offers them a better tax deal.
For more on how economically important sustainable agriculture is for Rhode Island, watch Ted Nesi’s excellent Executive Suite focusing on farmers’ markets and the amazing growth in small agriculture.