Big Corn takes on Big Oil over ethanol

Growers group mounts PR campaign pointing to energy as culprit for high food costs

By Steve Tarter
of the Journal Star
Posted Aug 18, 2008 @ 08:47 PM
PEORIA —
After corn was singled out earlier this year for contributing to rapid price increases in food and fuel, the Bloomington-based Illinois Corn Growers Association decided to fight back.

Corn and corn-based ethanol came under attack earlier this year in a public-relations campaign spearheaded by the Washington, D.C.-based Grocery Manufacturers Association.

The GMA questioned federal policy that diverted food crops for fuel while forming Food Before Fuel, a coalition of food, consumer and environmental groups, said association spokesman Scott Openshaw.

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