Colo. Retailers Align to Support GMO Ballot Initiative

Natural Grocers, Whole Foods Market and Alfalfa’s Market are among the Colorado retailers hosting in-store signature gatherings for the Right to Know Colorado Ballot Initiative #48 to label GMO foods.

With 34 locations in Colorado, Golden-based Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has been a lead supporter of the state’s mandatory GMO labeling bill. The natural and organic retailer currently hosts I-48 petition gatherers in all its Colorado stores. In addition to the campaign’s website, www.righttoknowcolorado.org, Natural Grocers offers comprehensive information about the Right to Know Colorado GMO labeling bill on its website.

Explaining that the Colorado Right to Know GMO Labeling Initiative I-48 "is not like the others," Alan Lewis, Natural Grocers’ director of government affairs, described it as "a fair and balanced measure that requires the Colorado Department of Health to establish and enforce regulations to identify whether consumer products contain GMO ingredients. Within the regulatory environment of Colorado, this will be an inexpensive and low risk framework with minimal cost. Private lawsuits are specifically disallowed. In this regard, it reflects the desire of all Coloradans to promote the public good without unduly burdening each of us individuals."

Whole Foods Market Enlists Colorado Stores

In early June, Whole Foods Market also cast its support behind the Right to Know Colorado petition movement at 20 store locations throughout Colorado. In March 2013, Whole Foods Market set a deadline that all products in its U.S. and Canadian stores must be labeled to indicate if they contain GMOs by 2018.

Independent Colorado natural and organic grocers Alfalfa’s Market and Lucky’s Market, both based in Boulder, are also permitting Initiative 48 petition gatherers at Alfalfa’s flagship Boulder store and Lucky’s Market Boulder and Longmont locations.

To view the Colorado Right to Know Initiative 48 ballot title to label GMOs as approved by the Colorado Supreme Court, click here.