July 25— The Non-GMO Project, a collaboration of North American grocery stores and co-ops urging natural food and supplement companies to go Non-GMO, now has 50 members.

Retailers from San Diego to White River Junction have joined this effort to assure "a Non-GMO food supply, our customers’ confidence in the foods and supplements we offer, and the general health and well-being of ourselves, our customers and the world in general."

The Certificate of Membership that each store receives upon joining describes the Project as:

• A groundbreaking effort to identify GMOs in the food supply and to influence natural food and supplement companies to go non-GMO.

• The first comprehensive non-GMO compliance review system started by independent natural foods & supplements retailers and their customers.

• The most rigorous standard for non-GMO verification, developed with the technical assistance of Global ID Consulting.

The Non-GMO Project was founded by two natural grocery stores, The Natural Grocery Company in Berkeley, California, and The Big Carrot Natural Food Market in Toronto, Canada. The Project seeks to enlist as many member grocery stores as possible across the United States and Canada. They also plan to formally invite all natural foods and supplements manufacturers to participate.

To see the list of the Non-GMO Project member stores: www.nongmoproject.org/stores.html

To join The Non-GMO Project as a member store, or for more information: www.nongmoproject.org

1. S. Contact: Corey Nicholl, (510) 526-2456 ext.154, info@nongmoproject.org