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APR-23-97 WED 23:50 HAWAII DIVERSIFIED TECH. 808 966 6977 P. 01 <br /> <br /> April 24. 1997 FAX TFiANSMITTAl. i? Fagas <br /> TO: Aaron t_ hunk, I_:11aiz- <br /> Special Meeting. Committee on Finance <br /> Cuutlly Council - <br /> 25 nupuni Strcct ' - - <br /> Hilu, Hawaii 96720 <br /> 'S7 APR 2y Hf9 7 27 <br /> FROM: Laurel Dekker <br /> !await Diversikied '1'eclmoli~gies, hzc- <br /> COJ~, <br /> HCR1 Box 4115 COUNTY Gr= j-lgV~?gll <br /> I{caau, HI 96749 <br /> ph/fa,: (81.Ifi) ~llit~-Ij~l'/'/ <br /> R1: 'Testimony against i1i11 (;'l 2u-1d the development of apost-harvest irradiation <br /> facthty. <br /> Dear Mr. t_lhunq and Committee Members, <br /> <_lpposing statements have been made re~ardinF{ the economics and overall <br /> tmpar.tg f,f an irradtatlnn facility. 1 believe C:.ouneilman ('.hung is correct in statilrf{ <br /> th»t. we "hsvr not sPPn a marketin,Q study that demonstrates a demand for <br /> irradiated produce, And a rrrrnt rost-benefit analysis sl-towin~ how the facility <br /> would benefit the community." Thcrrfnrc, ~ do not 4nppnrt the expenditure of $2 <br /> million in County funds for ctth rr the fs cittty c,r mArkrting/rP4Pa rc.h lntn <br /> promoting irradiated product3 from I-IAWA11. Al»n, T do not snl-,pnrt the <br /> development of a post harvest irrrldtetton fArt}tty. <br /> From an economic point of view, the ronvtdcrArion of hnifding an irradiation <br /> facility is al ber;[ premature. and at worst forcing A dcriginn nn an unsupported <br /> Tiltau~ial analysis. This doee not even talcs into rnn9ldcration any nP.gat1VP <br /> ecuuumic, auclal and health Impacts of a potential accident. (or even A "ntmc,r" c,f <br /> one) at a facllily utt uur Island. <br /> We are ovctloukiug uur Island's and State's ability to produce tt.n own <br /> products to replace illlpurts. We often overlook this proven »ectnr fnr n„r <br /> dtversitiied a,gl-lculturc itlduatrles in a rush to support pmr.~.oara that are <br /> r.rnnomically unproved ur uffer a quick fIx to a market glut. (r.g., czrcac srarfr-uit <br /> fnr In~al fresh h-uit lualkct). Our markets need to be expanded And fulfilled hrrP <br /> m rnn vtatP first, and then we call look to export markets with an cyr nn ohjrrttvP <br /> marlcct examinatt~n based on stafiatlual analysis, rather than hearsay or markrt <br /> etudle:, that. Arr. innnfficient or Ula~cd. <br /> The promotion of .gustaitaaUlc, Qiverslfied agriculture through appropnatc <br /> ut;lizatton of epecial "nuhc" markets, value added pruduule and selected <br /> vrgctables atld fruits yvlll fulfill c»lr C:nunty's need for a wider ecoitumiu ]~aae of <br /> o1t~. nI=aA'212~.~tpo6 <br /> Presented <br /> lbf. Da~~ <br /> R <br /> 2,.~. <br /> <br />