Press Release

August 18, 2004

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Peggy Miars
Communications Director
(831) 423-2263, ext.12
peggy@ccof.org

Author of Seeds of Deception to Speak at CCOF Benefit Dinner

(August 18, 2004) Santa Cruz, CA - Anyone interested in organic foods and the genetically modified organism (GMO) debate will want to join Jeffrey Smith, acclaimed author of Seeds of Deception, for a special organic benefit dinner and book signing on September 27 at the Green Valley Grill in Watsonville, Calif. This dinner is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in hearing the inside story of the GMO industry while enjoying organic cuisine. Tickets, priced at $75 each, may be purchased by calling California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) at (831) 423-2263, ext. 10.

This event, which benefits CCOF, marks the end of the California leg of Smith's international speaking tour. CCOF is one of the country's oldest and largest organic certifying organizations, and it continually advocates on behalf of organic farmers.

Smith's book, dubbed the "Silent Spring of genetically modified food", addresses many controversial issues surrounding the GMO debate. Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating presents overwhelming evidence documenting serious potential health problems associated with these high-tech foods that Americans eat every day. Moreover, the book reveals how corporate influence and political collusion have allowed GMO foods on the market.

Smith has made presentations to representatives from more than 50 countries and has reached tens of millions of people through hundreds of media interviews. He is the director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, a member of the Genetic Engineering Committee of the Sierra Club, on the Steering Committee of the Genetic Engineering Action Network, and on the Advisory Board of the Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods.

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About CCOF
CCOF, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1973 and is one of the nation's largest and oldest third-party organic certifying agencies. CCOF's purpose is to promote and support organic agriculture in California and elsewhere through:
o A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, handlers, and retailers.
o Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic product and to expand public support for organic agriculture.
o Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.