Non-GMO status helps organic category

But practically no fresh produce sold in the U.S. — organically or conventionally grown — is genetically modified, he said.

Given that, marketing organic produce as non-GMO seems unnecessary to some.

“I think it’s a bit redundant (to do that), because organics are, by default, non-GMO,” said Chris Ford, Salinas, Calif.-based organics category manager for the Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppenheimer Group.

“While there is a lot of education to be done with the consumer with what GMO means, by default organic is GMO-free.”

Consumers are quite often confused about fresh produce and GMOs, said Roger Pepperl, marketing director with Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers LLC.

“Actually, it’s a little bit of a fiasco right now,” he said.

“First of all, a portion of the organic consumer is buying them because they don’t want GMOs. Some people buying organic know that’s one way not to get them. They don’t realize 99.9% of (the products in the) produce department don’t have GMOs.”

There’s some validity to maintaining a “sleeping dogs lie” sentiment by not emphasizing the GMO-free aspect of organic — and conventional — produce on packaging, Pepperl said.

“I’ve heard both sides that if you put GMO-free on packaging it will make people afraid of everything else. I’m on the fence about that,” he said.

“We get a lot of questions on whether we have GMOs. People are just afraid, they’re uneducated. GMO concerns mean different things to different people.”

That might be understandable, because some people don’t realize that organic certification doesn’t allow GMOs, said Scott Mabs, CEO of Porterville, Calif.-based Homegrown Organic Farms.

“GMOs are a concern at the consumer level all over the country,” he said.

“I think helping people to understand that GMOs are not allowed under the organic regulation is critical to that continued growth.”

Misapprehension about GMOs isn’t going to subside anytime soon, either, Mabs said.

“You have a real battle between both sides with regards to advancement of one side and the consumer side,” he said.

“You’re going to see a separation of those areas. There’s a lot of GMO development taking place now, and yet you have a significant consumer base that doesn’t want it. That’s going to hit the wall at some point. Consumer perception is not good regarding GMOs at this point.”