Sonoma County voters ban genetically modified crops

Opponents of genetically modified crops won big in Sonoma County Tuesday night when voters approved a ban on GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, by a margin of nearly 12 percentage points. The future and sustainability of Sonoma County agriculture was also an oft-raised issue in the contest between organic farmer Linda Hopkins and former state Sen. Noreen Evans for the District Five Board of Supervisors seat. Because Sonoma County connects Marin County to Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity, the ban’s passage creates a 13,734-square-mile zone where genetically engineered plants cannot be grown, the largest such area in the United States. According to Hudson, farmers who are now growing GMOs will be able to continue growing for the current season as a grace period before the ban kicks in. In Healdsburg, Measure T, a ballot measure to eliminate water fluoridation, secured only 41 percent of the vote, losing by a 775-vote margin. Because I really think that we’re going to win this time.