Home Blog Dan Penas Net Worth and Life Story Net Worth: $450 Million Age: 75 Born: August 10, 1945 Country of Origin: United States of America Source of Wealth: Entrepreneur Last Updated: 2020

Daniel S. Pena, Sr. earned the nickname of the $50 Billion Man because of his high drive for success. He is the founder of Quantum Leap Advantage (QLA) Methodology, a well-respected author, and his mentees have a combined net worth of more than $6 trillion.

As of 2020, Dan Pena has a net worth estimated at $ 450 million.

Pena did not come from a family with generational wealth. His father was somewhat famous because of his role as the lead investigator of the Robert F. Kennedy assassination, but that was the extent of their fame.

It was a military household since Penas father served as a Lieutenant Commander in World War II and Korea before becoming a CIA operative. His home was a place where tough love was the practice.

Crime and violence were also prominent in East Los Angeles in the late 1950s when Pena was a child.

It took several stints in jail for alcoholism before life began to change for Dan Pena during his high school years. His father even told local officers to beat him if he was misbehaving in public.

Pena would eventually earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Fernando Valley State College in 1971.

Pena took the foundation of his education to turn an $820 investment into a company worth over $450 million. Great Western Resources Inc. formed in 1980, provided natural resources like petroleum to the market. He served as the CEO of the organization until he and the Board of Directors had a falling out about a decade later.

It was a global operation that involved drilling, onshore, and offshore that had 22 coal mines at the height of its influence.

Pena then used his experience to form an independent consultancy firm called The Guthrie Group in 1997. He is still active as the Chairman and Founder.

Pena currently resides in Guthrie Castle, which is located in Angus Scotland. It was initially constructed in the 15th century, although the structures were updated in the 19th century to reflect modern needs.

Guthrie Castle was purchased in 1984 by Pena from the Guthrie family after it had stayed in their family for over 400 years. He restored the home to its original condition, added a golf course, and then opened it to the public for about 15 years beginning in 2003 to host weddings and corporate functions.

It now serves as Penas private home once again.

Pena provides week-long seminars at Guthrie Castle using his QLA Methodology that takes participants through the foundational steps of being successful. Workshops include information about how to raise capital, how to overcome obstacles when pursuing an idea, and the seven necessary steps to achieve super success.

The philosophy of Pena and his mentees is straightforward: there are no free lunches. Each person must work hard to earn what they get in life. If you have the guts to follow his steps, then you can start obtaining the wealth that can support your family for multiple generations.

The consensus of Dan Penas seminars is positive when reviewing forums, blogs, and websites that discuss QLA Methodology. There is no fluff or feel-good stuff to worry about with his workshops. His focus is on growth. You can live a comfortable life and relax, or you can choose to pursue your goals and dreams.

If you choose the latter, then Dan Pena can help you find the success you want.

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Dan Pena's Net Worth and Life Story (Updated 2020)

Most people know its a good idea to buy and eat organic foods whenever possible. Even those who arent particularly health-conscious are aware of this. However, its all-too-common for consumers to stare blankly at their kitchens subway tile backsplash, trying to make a shopping list filled with organic options that dont empty their wallet. Healthy organic foods are almost always more expensive than nonorganic items often dramatically more expensive. This can leave many people wondering if its even possible to be health-conscious and budget-conscious at the same time.

Fortunately, its absolutely possible, as long as you know which foods to buy organic and which youre safe buying from the regular aisles.

Some foods arent much different, whether theyre organic or not. However, the foods on this list should always be purchased organic to avoid accidentally ingesting nasty chemicals. Knowing which foods are most important to buy organic will help you stretch your dollars as far as possible, helping you stay healthy and save money.

Coffee is the third most sprayed crop in the world, just behind tobacco and cotton. And while neither cotton nor tobacco ever makes its way into our diets, 30% of the entire population drink coffee occasionally. For many people, two or even three cups of coffee is a part of their daily routine. So if youre only going to buy one organic food regularly, you should make it this one.

Pesticides used on coffee plantations are supposed to be partially neutralized during the roasting process, but even worse than the effects they have on your body may be the effects they have on nature. These herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides can have negative long-term effects on farmers and the environment. If more people choose organic coffee, however, this wont have to be a problem forever.

The right dairy products are an essential part of a balanced diet. They are also important in having strong teeth and a healthy smile, which 99.7 percent of adults believe is socially important. Dont settle for the cheapest butter, cheese, or jug of milk on the shelf, though. Nonorganic dairy products usually come from cows that received antibiotics, growth hormones, and a grain-only diet. What goes into the cow eventually makes its way into the milk and unhealthy animals can only produce poor-quality products.

And as if that wasnt enough, animals in conventional industrial farms typically arent treated well and dont enjoy lives that are healthy or pleasant. Not only does this ultimately mean poorer health for those who consume the animals or their milk, but it also means the animals themselves suffer needlessly while alive. Buying high-quality organic dairy products is a better option for you and our animal neighbors.

There are a lot of reasons to buy organic, but when it comes to grapes and products made with grapes, the reasons become even more convincing.

Many people enjoy a glass of wine now and then, especially at celebratory events like weddings and anniversaries. Even if you dont drink wine, you probably eat grapes at least once in a while. Unfortunately, grapes have been found to contain multiple different types of pesticide residues. To make sure that your healthy treat or relaxing drink doesnt carry any adverse effects with it, always buy organic grapes and wines and try to wash your grapes well before eating them.

As we all know, you should visit your doctor at least once per year and you should eat an apple a day so you dont have to see them more often. One reason apples are so famous for being healthy is that theyre a good source of fiber, which helps keep your digestive tract in shape. But if your apples arent organic, you may want to reconsider: most apples contain residue from at least one pesticide.

Besides washing your apples before eating (which is something you should do with just about any fresh food you buy), try to find apples that are organic. This also applies to products like apple sauce and apple juice, which can be even worse than nonorganic apples because theyre so highly concentrated.

If you love topping hamburgers with tomato slices or adding grape tomatoes to salads, youll want to make sure the tomatoes youre buying are organic. The USDA Pesticide Program showed that tomatoes can carry 69 different pesticides. And since you always eat them with the skin left on, youre even more likely to get those pesky chemicals in your system. When youre looking for tomatoes for your next barbecue, go organic.

Peppers are fascinating fruits. Not only do they possess an unusual flavor spectrum, from mildly sweet to intensely spicy, but theyre also known for a variety of health benefits. Thats because peppers contain a chemical known as capsaicin, which may help relieve nasal congestion and even fight off cancer.

Unfortunately, nonorganic peppers are likely to contain other chemicals that arent so helpful. Conventional grocery store peppers can carry up to 75 different pesticide residues, including recognized carcinogens and neurotoxins. No matter what kind of budget youre on, when you buy peppers, they should always and only be organic.

Sadly, organic hot peppers arent as easy to find as other organic options, especially in smaller grocery stores. If you cant find or cant afford hot peppers, try using onions instead. They offer a similarly spicy flavor and theyve been shown to be fairly clean, even when theyre not organic.

Dietary experts recommend that you eat five servings of vegetables every day and for many people, those servings come from tasty salads. From spinach to kale, leafy greens are worth splurging on to get organic. This is because the leaves offer a wider area for chemicals to stick. Considering that you cant peel leafy greens and you need a lot of them to make a satisfying salad, the result is a concentration of pesticide residue on your plate. To avoid this problem altogether, go organic and be diligent when youre rinsing or soaking greens as you prepare them.

And there you have it: these are some of the most important foods to buy organic. Even if youre on a budget, to enjoy the best health possible, try to always buy these foods in the organic section.

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Which Foods Are Most Important To Buy Organic? - The National Memo

Organic Food Iberia 2020, the organic industry show that will be held on June 3 and 4 in Madrid, will have more than 600 exhibitors. In addition to Spanish producers, there will be a wide international presence, with representatives from the United States, South Korea, France, the United Kingdom and Austria. Participation at the event has been promoted in partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Inter-American Commission on Organic Agriculture (CIAO), which will have its own over 50 square meter pavilion this year.

Meanwhile, the European market will be represented by brands from Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom.

Spanish products and distributors Attendees will have the chance to visit the pavilions of Madrid, Navarre, La Rioja, Galicia and the Region of Valencia, as well as Castile-La Mancha, which is participating for the first time. For its part, Andalusia will also have its own pavilion with more than 100 producers.

The list of exhibitors includes Delicious & Sons, a producer of sauces and pestos; Biocop, a distributor of organic products; Levante Import Export, specialized in fruits, vegetables and nuts; Anecoop S. Coop, a cooperative specialized in fruits and vegetables; Alternative 3, a fairtrade store; Ekotrebol, which will be showcasing soft drinks, oils and wines; Gourmundo, a specialist in the gourmet organic world in which wines, champagnes and spirits stand out; Capsa Food, a dairy products specialist; Herbes De La Conca, showcasing its spices, teas and chocolates; Runakay Plus with its vegetable drinks based on superfoods; Sol Chocolates, Comfresh Ibrico, etc.

Specialized areas at Organic Food Iberia The event will feature three different specialized theaters: The Organic Theater, La Cocina, and the Eco Living Theater, as well as an area devoted to organic spirits: Organic Wine Iberia, and two innovative spaces, which will serve to present the latest organic and natural products launched in the past year.

Source: infohoreca.com

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Organic Food Iberia will bring together organic products from all over the world - FreshPlaza.com

A con so notorious it was eventually dubbed The Field of Schemes has gotten the deep dive it deserves.

Organic farming has since it was codified in 1990 been vulnerable to scammers, schemers, and con artists. The story of Randy Constant is perhaps the ultimate example, and this week, Mike Hendricks at the Kansas City Star released a long-awaited deep dive into Constants multimillion-dollar organic scam.

Randy Constant, who killed himself this past summer, was the ringleader of an organic grain scheme that brought to light all sorts of problems in the organic farming worldand subsequently shook it to its core. Over a period of about a decade, he sold non-organic grain as organic, reaping huge profits, while maintaining a reputation as an honorable organic farmer in his hometown of Chillicothe, Missouri.

Hendrickss story investigates the entire chain of events that took Constant from a high school football star to a ten-year prison sentence, and his own death. Constant exploited various holes in the organic certification business to sell over a hundred million dollars in fraudulent organic grain.

Organic food is a market worth $50 billion per year and is growing fast, with consumers drawn to products that are required to maintain higher environmental standards than conventional foods. It is frequently cited that organic food is not, in fact, healthier than conventional food; in fact, some of Constants co-conspirators stated that nobody was hurt by Constants fraud, because the food was not nutritionally different. This willfully ignores the point of organic food, which is primarily about maintaining soil health and environmental sustainability.

In any case, Constant relied on spotty, irregular, and incomplete audits from inspectors. He used a technique called salting, in which an inspection could look at a small active organic farm, but those products would be mixed with a far larger amount of conventional products when it comes time for sale. Fraud is not particularly common at this scale, but its not because its especially hard to do; the New Food Economy reported that the only reason Constant was caught was because others in the industry reported him.

The story is worth a read in full; it details all of the ways in which Constant was able to sell decades worth of fraudulent grain. It also shows what Constant did with some of that money, largely in the form of Las Vegas gambling trips and relationships with prostitutes. Its one of the best farm crime stories of the year, but also a reminder that the organic program which progressive farmers rely on has some significant holes in it.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Hendricks exploited various holes in the organic certification business, but it was in fact Randy Constant who did this. We apologize for the error.

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The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Organic Farm Scams in History - Modern Farmer

By William Sumner, Hemp Content Manager, New Frontier Data

It pays to be green. According to market analysis by the Organic Trade Association, organic food and non-food products exceeded $50 billion in United States sales in 2018. Given the popularity of such products in the U.S., a growing number of hemp farmers are seeking competitive advantage by having their crops certified as organic by the federal Department of Agriculture (USDA).

According to the USDA, there are five steps in the organic certification process:

An Organic System Plan (OSP) is an applicant's roadmap to becoming certified organic. A well-crafted OSP will address all the farming or handling systems that the hemp farmer or manufacturer incorporates throughout the production process, including land-use history, storage, and soil-management activities. An OSP will include detailed records of the type of substances used in the production process (e.g., pesticides), and essentially detail the entire production process from seed to sale, with detailed documentation to prove each claim. An OSP template is available on the USDA website.

Once an OSP has been developed, the next step in the process is to implement it for review by a certifying agent. Certifying agents are accredited by the USDA to review and approve applications for organic certification. Currently, there are 80 such agents worldwide, with 48 based in the U.S. and 32 located in foreign countries.

When contacting a certifying agent, hemp farmers and manufacturers should consider the agent's fee structure and proximity to their facilities. Click here for a current list of USDA-accredited certification agencies.

Each certifying agent will determine fees based on each farm or facility's size and scope. The cost of having a certifying agent come to inspect, review, and approve an organic certification application can range from several hundred dollars to several thousands.

Fortunately, the USDA offers two programs which can help defray some of the costs. Available in all 50 states, the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (NOCCSP) will reimburse successful applicants for up to 75% of final certification costs (not exceeding $750).

Alternately, the Agricultural Management Assistance program (AMA) is only available in 16 U.S. states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

To prepare for inspection, applicants should gather all their documentation for convenient review of every step in the production process, from seed to sale. Such includes receipts, invoices, and other types of paper trails that might exist. Applicants should be prepared to lead the inspector on a tour of one's farm or facilities, and to provide requested product samples for testing.

The report will also assess a facility's risk of contamination, so it is important for cultivators to minimize risks and ascertain that procedures are in place to prevent contamination before the final report is submitted.

If an operation is fully compliant with the USDA regulations, the agent will approve the application. Once approved, annual renewal of organic certification is required, so applicants should update their OSPs regarding any changes in daily operations.

As organic certification entails a long, rigorous, and expensive process, individual hemp and CBD operators will need to consider whether organic certification makes advantageous sense for investing the time, effort, and expense toward the process.

The post Organic Hemp Certification in Five (Not So Simple) Steps appeared first on New Frontier Data.

The preceding article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Image Sourced from Pixabay

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Organic Hemp Certification in Five (Not So Simple) Steps - Benzinga

One can safely assume that the organic food sector is here to stay.

Highlights

The organic food industry started to boom a decade ago and there has been no looking back ever since then. Rising consciousness amongst people about the side effects of artificial chemicals in food production has further boosted the growth of organic food in recent years. Given the kind of innovation coupled with this rising demand, organic food industry is yet to witness a full-fledged evolution.But one can safely assume that the organic food sector is here to stay.

Organic farming has gained immense popularity in the last few years

Growth in e-commerce has acted like a catalyst for the industry to reach out to consumers, and the numbers are only showing an upward trend since 2013. Here are some probable reason why the organic food industry is expected to see an accelerated demand in years to come.

Due to the surge of smart-phone usage India, coupled with low-cost internet, there has been an increase in access to information about organic food. Added with this, e-commerce platforms acted like a facilitator reaching out to potential customers across the country. This is the reason why the growth of organic food was initially harnessed by Tier I cities, but the industry eventually reached out to potential customers in Tier II and Tier III cities. E-commerce platforms also made the sector competitive with more and more players entering into the organic food industry. Experts are predicting an increased penetration of organic food into Tier II and III cities in the years to come, leading to demand for organic food at a continually increased rate.

(Also Read:4 Health Benefits Of Switching To Organic Food) Availability of internethas resulted in better reach to these goods

The price difference between organic and inorganic food is insignificant; when compared to the health benefits carried by organic food. While organic food might be priced higher by a few pennies, it prevents the body from the needless intake of pesticides and fertilizers. This further cuts down the risk of health hazards and unnecessary medical expenses in the longer run.

(Also Read:5 Quick Tips for Shopping Organic)Considering the benefits, the prices difference is totally worth it

The Indian government is supporting and promoting organic farming by extending financial help to farmers adopting organic farming. Various government schemes like Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) have been implemented to promote the sector. GOI also implemented the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) which involves accreditation programme for certification bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming etc.

The demand for Indian organic food has not only witnessed a steady rise in India but it is receiving appreciation on a global platform. Due to India's favourable agro climatic conditions coupled with the inherited tradition of organic farming, the quality of organic food to exportis very high. As per reports, the demand for Indian organic food is on the constant increase worldwide; India exported organic products worth $515 million in the financial year 2017-18. The export trend will increase in the next five years.

(Also Read:Organic Food Market Growing at 25-30%, Says Government) The increase in awareness has resulted in increase in export

One can say that the organic food industry will witness a humongous rise in the next five years. The industry is still naive and on an emerging phase; it has huge potential for growth and may even contribute to the economic growth of the country in the longer run.

About Author:Mr. Divakar Bhalla, is the founder of Kesarwala. One of thefirstorganicfood restaurant in Delhi/ NCR.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Organic Food Industry: 4 Reasons Why It Will Boom In Coming Years - NDTV Food

Picazzo's is an Arizona-based family-owned and operated health centric restaurant with locations in Sedona, Scottsdale, Tempe, Paradise Valley and Arrowhead. Picazzo's sources clean, whole foods, rich in nutrients, blended with fantastic flavors. They have a fusion approach to a modern-Italian cuisine that sprinkles in the bold flavors of Asian, Mediterranean and even Mexican ingredients, into a menu of salads, entrees, pasta and pizza, calling themselves "Healthitarians!" Simply put, they like to bring people together through food and compassion. Picazzo's has been meeting the need for quality, healthy dining options for individuals that may have dietary restrictions as well as their guests that do not, bringing everyone together in the same dining experience. The menu continues to evolve into a plethora of dishes that are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and allergy-friendly as they continue requests to source the cleanest, healthiest ingredients we can find. Picazzos 95% organic produce brings the cleanest, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables to each plate. Studies have shown that polyphenols and antioxidants were greater in organic than conventional foods and they make every effort to follow through on their commitment to healthy foods. Working with local farmers and suppliers Picazzo's brings fresh and healthy ingredients to their establishments while trimming the carbon footprint. The chain sources NAE (No Antibiotics Ever), hormone-free and American Humane Certified chicken wings and breast, as well as nitrate/nitrite free meats such as sausage from Polidori, a certified green company. The Picazzo's sauces and dressings are made from scratch using organic spices and non-GMO sunflower and imported olive oils. In addition to their main menu, they offer a separate menu that is 100% vegan with offerings of salads, entres, pasta, pizza and desserts using brands that support the plant-based diet, such as Follow Your Heart, Daiya and Beyond Meat. The largest of locations is Scottsdale, modern and open. This location has a large dining area, outlined with a full bar to one side, surrounded by windows that let beautiful, natural light in. The covered patio is large and able to host parties up to 50 people. For more information visit, picazzos.com.

Originally posted here:

Picazzo's offers healthy dining options - Your Valley

Organic Food and Beverages Market Overview

This Organic Food and Beverages Market report showcases a holistic assessment of the entire market from the period 2017-2025. This report includes a detailed analysis of the present market trends along with numerous segments, which are found to be playing a vital role in the market. The included factors, such as market dynamics, difficulties, opportunities, constraints, and driving forces, clarify their effects on the market. The constraints and drivers (driving forces) are considered as intrinsic factors, whereas, difficulties and opportunities are deemed as extrinsic characteristics of the market. However, the Organic Food and Beverages Market study aims to deliver information on the progress and expansion of marketing terms of revenue across the prognosis interval.

Organic Food and Beverages Market : Research Methodology

The method for research and data collection used for this report is expert panel interviews, primary, and secondary research. The data for the secondary research is collected through different but relevant resources, such as past research papers, annual reports of the organization, and press releases. Moreover, other sources for data collection include trade journals, industry magazines, official government websites, and platforms, which were also utilized for the accumulation of information related to opportunities for business growth in the Organic Food and Beverages Market .

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The data collected for primary research includes telephonic interviews of numerous industry and business specialists through their consent. Also, the data is collected through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires throughout distinct geographies via emails in order to eliminate any biasedness and to acquire maximum details on Organic Food and Beverages Market throughout. Primary interviews are mostly taken on a continuous basis with all the industry specialists to get the latest knowledge of the market and verify the present data analysis. Primary interviews produce information related to all the essential factors, such as the size of the market, market and growth trends, state of competition within the selected geography, etc. These factors turned out to be useful in order to validate and strengthen the findings acquired through secondary research, and also to provide an understanding of the market to the team that was involved in the analysis.

Organic Food and Beverages Market : Scope of the Report

The report also displays an internal environment analysis for Organic Food and Beverages Market . Each market evaluation displayed in the report is produced with the help of profound primary interviews, secondary research, and internal reviews from the professionals. All the market evaluations have been examined by understanding the influence of different environmental forces, such as social, economic, and political factors with the present market dynamics affecting Organic Food and Beverages Market s growth.

Apart from market dynamics, the chapter is also comprised of Porters Five Forces analysis that expounds the five powers called, a. bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, new entrant threats, substitute threats, and level of competition concerning to Organic Food and Beverages Market . It describes several candidates, such as software and platform vendors, the intermediaries, system integrators, and end-users within the market environment. The report also draws attention to the competitive demography of the Organic Food and Beverages Market .

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Organic Food and Beverages Market : Competitive Landscape

The market analysis involves an entire portion devoted to the key actors in the Organic Food and Beverages Market in which our analysts offer knowledge related to the financial statements of all the key players including their entire product benchmarking, developments, and SWOT analysis. The company profile portion contains financial intelligence and business summary. The organizations included in this part of the report are free to be customized as per the clients requirements.

Highlights of Report

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Perimeter Intrusion Detection Market Set to Witness Y-o-Y Growth by 2019-2027

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Organic Food and Beverages Market : Growth and Changes Influencing the Industry 2017-2025 Dagoretti News - Dagoretti News

12 September 2019, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Glzow: At the State Research Centre for ... [+] Agriculture and Fisheries, Gunnar Hirthe shows various varieties of freshly harvested sweet potatoes. Since 2018, a multi-year trial series has been running here to cultivate the sweet potato, which has so far grown mainly in Asia, America and Africa. Climate change therefore makes it possible for vegetables to grow outdoors in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well. However, the plants need a good water supply. (Zu dpa: "Climate change makes it possible: sweet potato cultivation is being tested") Photo: Bernd Wstneck/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa (Photo by Bernd Wstneck/picture alliance via Getty Images)

A new study finds that many common foods, including beer and tea, turn out to be "natural" GMOs. What's a health-food purist to do?

Even though no one has found any evidence that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are harmful, anti-GMO activists have campaigned against them for years, with considerable success. As of this writing, 19 out of 28 countries in the European Union have voted to ban or severely restrict genetically modified plants, and many other countries impose similar bans.

But all of these restrictions may be in vain, because nature got there first. It turns out that many common foods have already been genetically modified, by a bacterium called Agrobacterium. (Read on to see the list.) And, in news that should be even more frightening to the anti-GMO crowd, these foods aretransgenic: they contain genetic material from completely different species.Frankenfoods!

First, as I've argued before, genetic modification technology is just a tool, and a very precise one at that. Scientifically, claiming that GMOs are bad for you is nonsensicalit depends entirely on what the genetic modification is. Whether a food scientist modifies a tomato to taste better by traditional breeding or by using GM technology, you still end up with a tomato that has different genetic content. The only difference is that with traditional breeding, you have no idea what exactly you changed in the plant's DNA. And humans have already consumed billions of servings of GM foods with no ill effects. The GM foods we eat today areperfectly safe.

So back to my first point. What are all these natural Frankenfoods, and how did they get that way?

I'll start with the common sweet potato, or yam. Humans eat hundreds of varieties of sweet potatoes, and you can buy them in markets on every continent. Back in 2015,a group of scientists from Belgium, Peru, China, and the US (Tina Kyndt and colleagues) discoveredthateverycultivated variety of sweet potato has "foreign" DNA integrated into its genome, from a bacterium called (appropriately) Agrobacterium. They tested 291 different varieties, and found the bacterium 100% of the time. They also tested wild relatives of sweet potato, and found that the wild varieties (which humans don't eat) are missing the bacterial DNA.

Agrobacterium is a bacterium with special properties: it has evolved to be able to insert its DNA directly into the genomes of a wide variety of plants. (Don't worry, it doesn't infect humans.) In sweet potatoes, this happened naturally, centuries or millenia ago, long before humans were cultivating it. But then we came along, and (apparently) we liked the taste of these naturally transgenic sweet potatoes, so those are the ones that we chose to cultivate. As a result, all the sweet potatoes we eat are GMOs, although it happened naturally.

That was five years ago. Butin a newly published study, scientists Tatiana Matveeva from Russia andLon Otten from France discovered that Agrobacterium has made its way into dozens of other plants, including some of our favorite foods and drinks. Matveeva and Otten searched through the genomes (the DNA) of hundreds of plants, and found 39 natural GMOs, as they called them.

So without further ado, here are the natural GMO foods, all of them transgenic, with the common name followed by the formal species name in italics:

That's right, beer and tea are GMOseven if they are labelled as "organic." Keep in mind that this list is undoubtedly incomplete: the new study relied on current genome databases, which are still missing many common foods.

If you're reading this, you've probably already consumed countless servings of transgenic, GMO foods. As I wrote above, there's no reason to believe that GMO foods are harmful in any way. Plenty of plants are naturally poisonous, of course (think hemlock), but widely-consumed foods got that way for a reason: people like to eat them, and they help sustain us.

If you believe the alarmist claims of the anti-GMO movement, then you're going to have to start avoiding many more foods, including everything on the list above. And yes, that includes beer.

Original post:

Surprise! Your Beer And Tea Are Actually Transgenic GMOs - Forbes

Willits Community Services and Food Bank (WCS) has been helping people in crisis for more than 38 years. And, while WCS distributes bags of food to anyone in need, it also helps provide individuals and families with a safety-net and referrals for those dealing with unemployment, poverty, and many other human conditions. WCS operates with funding from the State of California, Mendocino County and the Ted Erickson Foundation, but also relies heavily on community donations.

Each year WCS holds its Winter Fund Drive with the hope of raising enough money to continue serving the Willits and north county communities, and so far the goal has been met thanks to generous donors. With support from businesses, civic groups, individuals and families, WCS is able to provide essential human services such as food, shelter, utility assistance, transportation, bedding and personal items. With the passing of former WCS director Jim Marill in December 2018, the food bank saw an increase in donations in his name, according to former board member and volunteer, Ruthanne Volz, who is the new executive director.

That was a very challenging time with a lot of lessons and new things to learn all around for everybody, but we still had a very successful Winter Fund Drive last year, said Volz. The Winter Fund Drive really starts when we have our Thanksgiving Community Dinner. She added that the checks kept coming into February and WCS was able to surpass their funding goal of $34,000, which amounts to one third of the food banks annual income. Its been very successful over the years and its important that it stay successful. And, we are blessed to have donors from many parts of the country, not just here.

Although the last year has been an adjustment, two anonymous donors gave a total of $13,900 designated specifically for long-term improvements to the WCS facilities. The funds paid for new inside and outside paint, the installation of a ceiling in the warehouse, dual-pane windows in the front office, a new front door, roof leak repairs and new electrical plugs and switches. In trade for these improvements, our landlady Brenda Walker gave us a low-rent five-year lease on the building that has been our home since 1984, said Volz. Everyone is more comfortable and our participants appreciate the upgrades.

Another improvement will come in the form of a colorful mural painted by Willits High School art students and teacher Carolyn Bakewell with visiting artist Laura Wiesak. A Get Art in Schools Program (GASP) grant will pay for Wiesaks time and the cost of the materials will be funded by a raffle hosted by Marills widow Melinda Clarke. The raffle prize is a gourmet meal for four cooked and served by Clarke. Tickets are available at the food bank office.

WCS Bookkeeper Diana Hoyt said she came on staff after Marills passing to help wherever needed and she loves working at the food bank. Its so nice to be able to do something thats just working so well for our community, and plus the people that are volunteering and work here are just really nice. I look forward to coming here every time. Volz praised Hoyts many contributions saying, I am doing as well as I am because she does whatever is needed. Volz said running a nonprofit is different than anything shes ever done in her career as a social worker and family therapist, but she gets a lot of help. The good news is theres a lot of help and a lot of wise people, and a lot of very kind, compassionate people.

WCS prides itself on providing fresh, organic produce whenever possible, and during the summer, donations are abundant. In 2019, 5,794 pounds of fruits and vegetables was donated to the program by home gardeners, Grateful Gleaners, Frank R. Howard Foundations Commonwealth Garden and the gardens at Golden Rule. During the summertime, a young mother with two small children can in to get food. Following their food distribution, she returned to the front office in tears, her arms overloaded with several bags of food that included abundant, fragrant, fresh organic produce, shared Volz, adding that the woman thanked the staff and told them her family hadnt had so much food in a very long time.

Currently WCS relies on 10 volunteers, six paid employees and many other helpers who lend a hand as needed. To find out more about volunteering and becoming a board member, email Volz at wcsrav4@gmail.com, call the office at (707) 459-3333 or stop by 229 E. San Francisco Street in Willits during office hours: Tuesday 1-5 p.m, and Wednesday and Friday noon to 5 p.m.

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Willits Food Bank collecting funds to keep the doors open and services going - The Willits News