Customers prefer GM corn 'coz it looks fresher

Engineered corn proves easy to swallow
David Sneed

At SanLuisObispo.com

This item announces what may be a first in the nation, the Avila Valley Barn now clearly labels corn it sells as genetically engineered and offers customers a choice of traditional corn.

Owner John DeVincenzo grows corn that is genetically modified to contain an enzyme that is toxic to insects but not people. The produce is labeled “Our own GE corn.”

“People have the right to know what they are eating,” DeVincenzo said.


It says DeVincenzo said he started growing GE corn for practical reasons: It is cheaper to produce because it does not have to be sprayed to control corn earworms.

“It was strictly economics,” he said. By planting the modified corn, DeVincenzo did not have to use pesticides to control bugs and worms or pay for a worker to apply such chemicals. And there was some saving on fuel by not running a tractor.

Labeling the corn is also a good tool for measuring consumer preferences. The store offers the GE and traditional corn at the same price.

When DeVincenzo started the labeling, he thought the traditional corn would outsell the GE corn by a two-to-one margin. He was surprised to see that the opposite was true.

While some customers complained that GE corn was offered at all, DeVincenzo said the typical customer says they prefer the modified type because it is not shucked and looks fresher. Traditional corn has to be partially or completely shucked to eliminate ears that are infested with worms....


See earlier post showing GM corn is healthier too.