Tesco's Reasons for Buying Organic

Tesco is one of the largest superstore chains in England with delivery and online shopping.
They have refused to take any GMOs in the chain.

1. It tastes great - naturally!
   Fruit and veg grown organically contain less water, and less water means more taste! So we believe our organic food tastes great - try it for yourself.
   
   

2. No artificial pesticides, no artificial fertilizers
   Organic farming uses natural methods to enrich the land like crop rotation & green manure. It doesn't rely on any artificial pesticides or fertilisers, so farmland is less polluted. By maintaining existing hedgerows, and other natural wildlife habitats, it also helps preserve our landscape.
   
   

3. There are no GM ingredients
   Organic production prohibits the use of genetically modified material.
   
   

4. Animals are well cared for
   All organically-reared animals are free range, this means they have the freedom to roam outside. Their lifestyle encourages a natural rate of growth as animals are not routinely fed drugs such as antibiotics.
   
   

5. It's great value!
   The difference between conventional and organic prices is not as great as you might think - in fact in some cases the organic alternative is actually cheaper! And because it's Tesco, we're committed to keeping prices low so you can enjoy organics for less everyday! Click here to see our great choice and great value!
   
   

6. The choice of organic foods at Tesco is greater than ever!
   You'll find our organic range is even bigger and better, which means you can choose from over 700 products; we aim to give you an organic alternative you can trust for all your everyday shopping.
   
   

7. Quality you can trust
   At Tesco we provide the highest quality organic food at low prices. All our organic products are grown and produced to regulations laid down by the UK Register of Organic Food Standards. All are certified by approval bodies such as the Soil Association, who ensure that the strict standards are met.
   
   

8. Re-assuring for the family
   For your peace of mind, there has not been a case of BSE in an organically managed herd since before 1985.
   
   

9. Supporting UK agriculture
   Since 1998 Tesco have commited to working with Aberdeen University's Centre for Organic agriculture and are providing them with a grant for £250,000 over 5 years.
   
   

source: http://www.tesco.com/talkingTesco/organic.htm 26jan01

Tesco bars crops from fields used in GM tests 

David Brown / Telegraph 7jan00

Britain's largest supermarket chain said yesterday that the ban was in response to fears among customers and some scientists that traces of GM material could linger on the land and contaminate non-GM crops subsequently grown there.

The move, which could hit the future value of farmland on 60 sites earmarked for forthcoming Government trials of GM oilseed rape and maize, was welcomed by environmentalists but attacked by farmers' leaders. Rival retail chains dismissed it as "a stunt".

Tesco, which is phasing out GM ingredients from its own-label food range, said it would hold consultations to determine the length of time GM experimental fields should be kept out of commercial crop production.

News of the Tesco move was broken by Lord Melchett, the executive director of Greenpeace, at the Oxford farming conference where he urged producers to switch to organic farming instead of continuing with "industrialised" forms of agriculture.

Tesco said that it was responding to inquiries from suppliers who wanted to clarify where they stood. While no Tesco suppliers had so far taken part in GM crop trials, the instruction was aimed at future practice. "We are not saying you cannot get involved in a government trial if you supply Tesco," the company said. "We are saying that you cannot plant a Tesco crop in the same field, which to us is common sense."

The Cabinet Office dismissed the move as a "marketing ploy" and said there was no scientific basis for the restriction.

The National Farmers' Union of England and Wales said: "There is no scientific basis for Tesco to demand this. We are extremely concerned about the logistical and financial implications for farmers involved in GM trials. We are urgently seeking clarification from Tesco about how long these restrictions would apply to land used for GM trials."

Marks and Spencer, which has already removed GM ingredients from all of its food products in response to customer demand, said last night that it saw "no benefit" from banning crops in future from land used for GM trials.

Sainsbury and Safeway both said last night that they would not be adopting the Tesco stance.

source; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=004230638848913&rtmo=0xXNbKxq&atmo=rrrrrrrq&pg=/et/00/1/7/ngm07.html 26jan01