Palmetto Farms, a national milling company based in rural South Carolina, has committed its product lines in 2015 and beyond to be non-GMO and will only offer products that do not have genetically modified ingredients. This move is to align with the company's earlier decision to keep its manufacturing facility wheat free and corn products gluten free. These choices will ensure the availability of safe and natural foods for consumers who eat grits, cornbread and cornmeal as opposed to the highly processed alternatives increasingly offered by competitors.
Family-owned Palmetto Farms, which began grinding grain in traditional stone mills in the early 1930s, continues the same process today. Through this time proven method, the grain retains all of the natural oils found in the heart of the corn, unlike the common highly processed options found on most store shelves. GMOs, or "genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, and other animals and plants.
"Our family has literally been grinding away for customers since the 1930s because we believe in providing the absolute best products, no matter how time consuming it is to make," said David Dorman, a third generation owner of Palmetto Farms.
More than 90 percent of U.S. field corn is genetically modified, according to data recently released July 2014 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Genetically modified seeds have been embedded with a gene—usually from a bacterium—that protects the corn from pests or herbicides.
"Quality is important to us. We use only the finest, purest ingredients. The process is often slow and by hand, but we enjoy creating these classic Southern foods. They are natural, healthy, and delicious. People love them, and we are proud to keep this tradition alive," said Dorman.
In its commitment to providing only non-GMO foods, Palmetto Farms has chosen to use corn grown from conventional corn seed. These seeds are developed using traditional plant breeding without the use of molecular genetic modification techniques and are chosen for their purity standards and to ensure the product is as pure as possible.
Palmetto Farms offers high quality, natural products like grits, cornbread and cornmeal sold through selective retailers like Whole Foods and The Fresh Market. The company also allows purchase through Amazon and its own website www.PalmettoFarms.com
