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DANIEL K. AKAKA - ' <br /> MEM9Eq: <br /> HAWAII <br /> COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND <br /> wgsXixcrarv oPF¢E: NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> ]20 Hggr SENgTE OFFICE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS <br /> BUILOINO united ~tate.~ senate COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS <br /> WASxINGTON, DC 20510 COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS <br /> TELEPXONE: 12021 229-5361 <br /> WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1103 <br /> XON OLVLU OFFICE: <br /> 3109 PgixcE Jorvgx KuXlo Apri 1 4 19 9 7 <br /> <br /> KgLgNIANgOLE FEOEPRL BUILDING / <br /> P.O. Boa 50199 <br /> Horvoww, HI 96550 <br /> TELEPXONE: IB081 522-09]0 <br /> Ms. Kathy Dorn <br /> P.O. Box 11350 <br /> Hilo, HI 96721 <br /> Dear Ms. Dorn: <br /> This is in response to your letter regarding irradiation. <br /> I concur with your view that the use of nuclear materials to <br /> irradiate fruits and vegetables is unacceptable. However, <br /> electronic non-nuclear sterilization of food and nonfood articles <br /> is an accepted practice in the United States and in many other <br /> countries throughout the world. i see no reason why Hawaii's <br /> farmers should not enjoy the benefits of this technology. <br /> Bandages, cotton swabs, and other materials used to protect <br /> wounds and cuts are sterilized using this process. These <br /> articles are commonly found in every drugstore throughout Hawaii <br /> and the U.S. A wide variety of items used in hospitals, clinics, <br /> and doctors offices are also sterilized by electronic means. <br /> This technology has also been approved as a post-harvest <br /> deinfestation and shelf life enhancing process in the United <br /> States, Europe, and many other countries. After extensive <br /> scientific review, the Food and Drug Administration and the <br /> Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have approved this <br /> technology for treating a variety of fruits and vegetables. <br /> Finally, I cannot agree with an assertion that crop <br /> sterilization using electronic means favors large corporate <br /> agribusiresses. There are nearly 850 farms in Hawaii that could <br /> benefit from this technology. The average annual value of crops <br /> produced by these farms is $27,700 per farm, and when farm <br /> operating costs are subtracted, the average annual profit per <br /> farm is very modest. <br /> To summarize, I concur with your concern about irradiation <br /> using nuclear materials, but do not agree that the same concern <br /> exists for post harvest sterilization using electronic means. <br /> If i may be of further service, please let me know. <br /> Aloha pumehana, <br /> DANIEL K. AKAKA <br /> U.S. Senator <br /> PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER <br /> <br />