Measure 92: Label it a hot,costly debate

It is the most expensive ballot measure in Oregon’s history. Between the two sides, nearly $20 million already has been spent on whether or not to require GMO (genetically modified organisms) labeling on food products, as laid out in Measure 92.

GMOs can be a range of things, such as corn grown with seeds that are genetically engineered to make the plants more resistant to certain kinds of pests.

“All of our hay, all of our grain, everything we raise is non-GMO,” said Matt Cyrus as a combine sits idle in a field of chickpeas on his father’s Sisters area-farm. His family has been farming in Central Oregon since the 1880s.

“I’d like to know what’s in my food,” Cyrus said.

But as the the president of the Deschutes County Farm Bureau, he’s voting no on Measure 92.

“The way it’s written, it still does not guarantee anybody knows what’s in their food,” Cyrus said.

He said the measure has too many exemptions, and puts farmers in a bind.

“Have a combine for GMO product, a combine for non-GMO. I’m sure a lot of farmers will say ‘to heck with it’ and only sell to states that don’t care,” Cyrus said.

Less than 30 miles away, on a small farm just outside of Bend, Chris Casad, the owner and operator of Juniper Jungle Farm, takes a different view.

“It’s big farmers vs, a small farm like this, a local-based farm. Those guys are feeding a bigger food chain,” Casad said.

He supports Measure 92, saying labeling is a way to push back on the way big agriculture works.

“It’s going to change the flow of big business as far as food goes, because I think the consumer demand is going to be for non-GMO,” Casad said.

Two farmers, two different votes, but still some common ground.

“You know, people should know what’s in their food,” Casad said.

“As with anybody, I like to know what’s in my food,” Cyrus echoed.

Perhaps the compromise between the two extends beyond Oregon.

“If they’re going to do some labeling, it needs to be national,” Cyrus said.

As voters cast ballots, learn more about the measure, as well as who’s spending all that money, at the measure’s Ballotpedia page.

It’s also the topic of this week’s KTVZ.COM Poll, which you can find halfway down the right side of our home page.