As a consumer, it can be frustrating. We just reached the point where the only whole foods in the produce section that we have to watch out for are the papayas. That's because they can be unlabeled GMO (genetically modified organisms) or GMO-contaminated papayas. The one farmer on O'ahu who grew GMO sweet corn stopped, and GMO potatoes and tomatoes were market failures.

Now, they are talking about a new round of GMO fruits and vegetables. This time, they will have had their genomes violated with supposedly healthy things, as opposed to pesticides.

I find it difficult enough to shop for and feed my family without being subjected to confusing and misleading information about the value and safety of GMO foods. The biotech industry has been "on the verge" of saving starving people in the world for 20 years now with Golden Rice, which is vitamin A-enriched. But this bio-fantasy has never truly been figured out in the lab, nor has it made it to field trials. But they sure have sold a lot of herbicide based on this story.

The technology behind the genetic engineering that was used to make Hawai'i's GMO papaya in 1989 in the lab is now archaic. Marker Assisted Selection is the latest technology, and has been dubbed "Super Organics" because conventional breeding can be sped up by reading genomes — not violating them — and this method uses traditional plant crosses to create new varieties that even organic farmers can use. And this method comes without all the protests, and potentially expensive liability.

Clearly, Hawai'i should support this option rather than genetically engineering our vitamins and medicine into our salad ingredients.

As a coffee farmer, I'm upset that the state Legislature and the Department of Agriculture chose not to protect me or my industry. Our GMO-free coffee bill made it through the House and died before the final hearing stages in the Senate. Our coffee industry (farmers, processors and retailers) has had a consensus on GMO-free coffee in Kona since 2002, and on GMO-free coffee in Hawai'i since 2004. Considering how divided our industry is on many issues, I'm shocked that the Legislature wouldn't easily pass this bill that has such broad industry support.

We cannot sell our high-end, specialty coffee around the world if there is market perception of GMO contamination. Now, International Coffee Technologies has testified that it will have GMO decaffeinated coffee plants ready for field trials on O'ahu in 12 to 18 months. This is a serious threat to the coffee industry in Hawai'i.

Taro farmers and Native Hawaiians also sought protection for their crops through a GMO-free taro bill, and they were shut out in the final hearing stages, even after their passionate protest on the steps of the state Capitol.

Consider the papaya industry. The GMO papaya was introduced in 1998 and despite the contention of backers, GMO did not save the industry. The papaya industry continues to have economic troubles, including the loss of the Japanese market segment. Many of Hawai'i's papayas have become GMO contaminated. Clearly, our farmers don't want this GMO technology. Why is our Legislature and the University of Hawai'i still supporting it?

Let's look at corn. The majority of the seed corn for the U.S. corn crop is developed in Hawai'i. At least half of it is GMO, with producers conducting their experimental field trials here. They claim to be a $144 million industry. But beyond land lease fees and migrant labor jobs, there are few benefits to Hawai'i —no products, no sales taxes. Mainland-based seed companies see the bulk of the profits, lucrative patent rights and executive jobs. We get stuck with the risk and liability.

Recent land purchases by Monsanto on Moloka'i and the North Shore of O'ahu have citizens concerned that they might be breathing genetically altered corn pollen, finding lost GMO corn genes in their gardens and seeing increases in chemical and pesticide run-offs.

And there's more to consider. After 10 years of lobbying and millions of our tax dollars spent, Japan still does not want our GMO papaya. I doubt that our Japanese tourists would like to see our new image as "GMO Field Test Capital of the World," either. We are all worried about peak oil prices and our barge-based food system. However, taking Hawai'i's prime agriculture lands to grow seed corn that is not for people to consume or for animal feed, but rather for ethanol biofuel, is not a "sustainable" option, either.

Luckily, all around us are the signs of what Hawai'i's consumers and farmers really want: more farmers' markets filled with local, fresh whole foods; increasing interest in organic eating and farming; and resurgence of taro growing and varietal protection.

It's time to say no to GMO — and yes to a GMO-free and food-secure Hawai'i.

Melanie Bondera is a mother and coffee farmer on the Big Island. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.