Politics & Government

La Jollan Fights for Prop 37

Local resident and business owner Michelle Lerach leads the fight on

Research indicates that more than three-quarters of conventionally processed foods in the US contain GMO ingredients (genetically modified organisms), according to La Jolla business owner Michelle Lerach. The Cups Culinary owner is leading the campaign for Yes on Prop. 37, a state measure on the November ballot that would require clear labels letting consumers know if foods are genetically modified. 

Lerach is a sustainable food activist that practices what she preaches. She has donated both time and money to Prop. 37, according to Voice of San Diego.

“The No on 37 campaign throws up a lot of smoke screens, trying to confuse consumers. To me it’s unthinkable that we don’t have the fundamental right to know what’s in the food we buy,” she told the paper. “And the reason we don’t have it is that corporations have control over our food supply.”

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Opposition of Prop 37 say it would increase grocery bills for families by $400 per year and increase taxpayer costs by millions.

In August, Lerach hosted a California Right to Know briefing and strategy session with key figures, including the campaign manager of the California Right to Know campaign, also known as Yes on 37.

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In July, Lerach and her husband, William Lerach, hosted a sustainable food-focused dinner at their La Jolla Farms home. The dinner with 200 guests took place in their backyard, featured 21 of the regions "socially-conscious chefs" who prepared an 11-course meal using local produce and farm-raised meats. Guests even got to tour the couples garden, groves and chicken coup.

Also read: Sustainable Food Gets 'Berry' Delicious

In May, she hosted a “What’s in Our Food… Your Right to Know” forum at Warwick’s in La Jolla. She served as the moderator for panelists including Nancy Casady, a member of the California Agriculture Board and general manager of People's Food co-op in Ocean Beach, and La Jollan Fernando Aguerre, the president of the International Surfing Association. The aim of the panel was to educate the community about sustainability and alternative resources.

Lerach also sits on the La Jolla Village Merchants Sustainability Committee—more commonly known as the Green Team— which focuses on identifying and promoting La Jolla businesses that offer sustainably produced goods or services, or that practice sustainable business practices, and to provide educational opportunities about sustainability to the public.

Lerach will moderate a panel on GMOs at UC San Diego on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Read more about the panel: UCSD Student Panel: 'OMG WTF R We Eating?'

If you want to learn more about Prop. 37 visit the following pages:

No on Prop 37

Yes on Prop 37


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