Genetically Modified Tomatoes
...ch allows Florida to export the tomatoes out of the state. Obviously, tomato production in Florida is not only important to its economy, but also to consumers throughout the country. Standing by the naturalist point of view, I believe that it is safer to “wait-and-see” if years down the road, scientists will discover that genetically modified food can be harmful to consumers. I can relate this to the discovery that people could contract vCJD from eating cattle that were infected with BSE, which contrasted the former belief that the disease was not transmissible between different species. As a result, thousands of people, mainly in Europe, were infected with vCJD and died. If a similar disease were to arise from Florida’s GM tomato production, people throughout the country would cease buy the tomatoes, therefore damaging Florida’s economy and endangering lives. As you mentioned in your article, Flavr Savr is a type of genetically modified tomato that is grown in Florida. These tomatoes are picked while they are still green and firm, then shipped to their destination and gassed with the fruit-ripening gas ethylene, which allow the tomatoes to develop a bright red color. Consumers prefer to buy the largest and reddest tomatoes because of their “healthy” appearance, but since the tomatoes were picked before they were fully ripe, they did not fully develop their taste. Flavr Savr tomatoes have very little flavor. Traditional methods of growing and harvesting tomatoes allows them to develop their flavors and color naturally, which, in my opinion, is far better than the tasteless GM tomato. As a Florida resident, I have seen the vast acres of tomato crops that are speckled with immigrants harvesting in the hot summer sun. The immigrants take little time to notice the quality of the tomatoes they pick, and they probably do not even care. The owners of those farms have less morals than small family owned farms. I believe in the morals and values that family farmers live by. They work to please the consum...