Neil Young Supports Vermont Food Label Law with $100,000 Donation

Neil Young
Photo by GLENN RUSSELL - FREE PRESS

Neil Young is supporting Vermont’s food labels laws with a $100,000 donation.

Vermont has a GMO labeling law and has been sued by a consortium of corporations.

Appearing with Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, Neil Young announced a donation of $100,000 to a fund devoted to defending Vermont’s genetically modified organism, or GMO, labeling law from legal challenges. Shumlin said that Young’s donation was “a huge help.”

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin & Neil Young

“Vermonters take our food very seriously and I am proud that we are the first state in the nation to implement this common-sense labeling requirement,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Support for the food fight fund is support for the consumer’s right to know. Huge corporations fighting to keep consumers in the dark are suing the state in a series of vigorous and costly lawsuits. The food fight fund will defend against the lawsuits and is the classic David and Goliath story of a small state versus the big food industry.”

“Promise of the Real and I are proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Vermont and support efforts to uphold the people's will in the legal battle against corporate bullying. GMO labeling will stand,” Young said.

According to washingtontimes.com:

“It’s a huge gift, and we need more like them,” he said, to help defray the costs of a legal battle that Attorney General Bill Sorrell has estimated could cost the state as much as $8 million.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America and other industry groups are suing to block the law before its scheduled implementation date, July 1, 2016.

When Shumlin signed the law 14 months ago, he announced the formation of the Vermont Food Fight Fund to collect donations to help fight the expected legal challenges. Before Sunday, the effort had raised about $450,000, the governor said; Young’s donation boosted it by more than 20 percent.

Shumlin said Young “called me out of the blue about 10 days ago and said, ‘I’m coming to Vermont. I want to help you raise money for the Vermont food fight.’”

More on Food Fight Fund.

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