Natural Merchants Celebrates Non-GMO Month in October with 29 Non-GMO Project Verified Wines

GRANTS PASS, Ore. - Oct. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- Natural Merchants, LLC, based in Grants Pass, OR and Cartagena, Spain, encourages consumers to celebrate the 4^th annual Non-GMO Month this October by purchasing Non-GMO Project Verified wines to complete their Non-GMO meal experience. Natural Merchants presents the first wines imported from Europe to obtain the verification.

“Consumer demand for non-GMO products has increased dramatically in the United States, as an estimated 80% of all packaged goods are now genetically engineered,” says Edward Field, President of Natural Merchants. “The demand flows over into wine and other alcoholic beverages. We are delighted to be able to support a healthy food system, providing Non-GMO Project Verified Wines that make every meal a celebration.”

Non-GMO Month was created by the Non-GMO Project in 2010 as a platform for raising awareness on the GMO issue. “Citizens and organizations across North America are discovering the risks GMOs pose to our health, our families, and our planet. Non-GMO Month is an opportunity to coordinate our voices and our actions, so that we can stand up loudly and clearly for our right to know what’s in our food, and to choose non-GMO.”

Natural Merchants works with family-owned wineries throughout Europe to produce USDA Certified Organic No Sulfites Added Wines, as well as wines Made with Organically Grown Grapes. Five of the winery partners, located in Italy, Spain, Austria, France and Greece are participating in the Non-GMO Project Verification, verifying a total of 29 wines:

-  Italy-La Cantina Pizzolato-Brands Pizzolato and Pizzolato Fields

-  Spain-Bodegas Iranzo-Brands VERTVS, Tarantas and Spartico

-  Austria-Biokult-Brand Biokult

-  France-Vignobles Raymond-Brands Les Hauts de Lagarde and Le Petit du Chateau de Lagarde

-  Greece-Domaine Gioulis-Brand Sofos

The verification is granted by the Non-GMO Project, a not-for-profit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices.

Non-GMO Project Verified status indicates that the brands adhere to consensus-based best practices for avoidance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are organisms whose natural genetic material has been altered through engineering techniques. Natural Merchants winery partners will proudly display the Non-GMO Project Verified badge on shelf tags so that consumers can easily identify the products.

As consumers continue to seek healthier food options, the concept of genetic modification of ingredients has come into the spotlight. While purchasing certified organic products is a substantial step in working toward a non-GMO diet, organic manufacturers and importers are going the extra step to obtain the Non-GMO Project Seal to give consumers additional peace of mind.

All Natural Merchants winery partners utilize only indigenous “wild” yeast fermentations in their wines, and do not “inoculate” the wines with the addition of yeast during production. Indigenous yeast fermentation starts by itself when wild yeast strains – originating in the vineyard - start fermenting. Only Bentonite clay, a naturally occurring mineral, is used as a fining agent. Both preclude any possible contamination by GMO sources and also make the wines vegan friendly.

Organic and natural foods grocer Whole Foods Market has announced that all products in their U.S. and Canadian stores must be labeled to indicate whether they contain GMOs by 2018. 12 of Natural Merchant’s core wines that are Non-GMO Project Verified are currently available in Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.

For more information about Non-GMO Project Verified Wines, please visit http://www.nongmowines.com.

The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization committed to preserving and building the non-GMO food supply, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. We believe that everyone deserves an informed choice about whether or not to consume genetically modified organisms. For more information visit www.nongmoproject.org.

The Natural Merchants Selections program highlights more than 150 carefully selected wines from Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Greece and Portugal, grown in unique organic terroir, each vineyard producing clean, fresh superior wines that are both good for the earth and tantalizing for the palate. For more information visit www.naturalmerchants.com.