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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

VPIRG Drums Up Support For GMO Labeling Bill

A statewide environmental and consumer group will spend the summer trying to drum up support for legislation that requires labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms.

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group says it will contact thousands of Vermonters to build a grassroots movement for the issue.

Falko Schilling is VPIRG’s consumer protection advocate. He says the goal is to win votes in the state Senate for the GMO labeling bill. The measure passed the House this spring.

“So we’re going to have college students knocking on doors, riding bikes up steep hills and talking to tens of thousands of Vermonters to try to get the word out to our legislators that Vermonters really want these foods labeled. So we’re probably knocking on about 70,000 doors and getting hopefully about 30,000 messages to senators, and we think that could really make a big difference,” Schilling said.

VPIRG often conducts summer canvass drives around energy or environmental issues. Organizers say this year’s outreach effort will be the largest is the group’s history.

John worked for VPR in 2001-2021 as reporter and News Director. Previously, John was a staff writer for the Sunday Times Argus and the Sunday Rutland Herald, responsible for breaking stories and in-depth features on local issues. He has also served as Communications Director for the Vermont Health Care Authority and Bureau Chief for UPI in Montpelier.
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