A group including some of Hawke's Bay's biggest horticulturists, producers and marketers is urging its councils to declare the region a GE-free food producing area. Pure Hawke's Bay believes genetically engineered food production and outdoor field trials involving genetically modified organisms pose a threat to the region's growers and the regional brand. It wants a ban on GE field trials and food production in Hawke's Bay to be ratified in the district plans of five councils.