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IRRADIATION IS HOPE <br /> MY NAME IS BRIAN LIEVENS, I AM A SMALL FARMER IN KONA AND I <br /> WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO <br /> EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED IRRADIATION PLANT IN HAWAII. <br /> HAVING SPENT THE LAST 8 YEARS RESEARCHING, GROWING, AND <br /> MARKETING TROPICAL FRUIT I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT EXPORT <br /> BARRIERS WE FACE IN SELLING OUR PRODUCE OUT OF STATE: <br /> MOST OF THE NEW TREE CROPS THAT SHOW THE GREATEST PROMISE <br /> HAVE BEEN PLANTED IN SUFFICIENT NUMI3ERS TO MEET' LOCAL DEMAND, <br /> AND MARKET SATURATION IN THE ISLANDS WILL OCCUR IN LESS THAN 10 <br /> YEARS. <br /> EVEN IF HAWAIIAN FARMERS WERE TO TRY TO COMPETE WITH <br /> MAINLAND GROWERS TO RECAPTURE LOCAL PRODUCE MARKETS THEY <br /> WOULD EXIST WITHIN VERY NARROW MARGINS. THE VAST TRACKS OF <br /> CANE LAND WOULD CON'TINUETO BE UNDERUTIt,IZED. <br /> FOR AGRICULTURE TO BE A MAJOR ECONOMIC FORCE IN THE <br /> ISLANDS WE MUST LOOK TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPORTS. <br /> THIS GLOBAL APPROACH IS POSSIBLE IF WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE POST- <br /> HARVEST TREATMENT FACILITY. <br /> THE LAST DECADE HAS SEEN MANY ATTEMPTS AT CERTIFICATION <br /> VIA HOT AND COLD TREATMENTS IN VARIOUS SCENARIOS AND FOR MANY <br /> FRUITS. THESE HAVE FAILED. <br /> A GOOD EXAMPLE IS LYCHEE, SUBJECTED TO TREATMENT TO FRUIT <br /> FLY, IT WAS A SUCCESS, HOWEVER IT IS STILL NOT EXPORTABLE BECAUSE <br /> OF SEED BORER. TAIWAN, WHICH HAS A LYCHEE INDUSTRY, AND FRUIT <br /> FLY, BUT NO SEED BORER IS THE DIRECT' BENEFICIARY OF U.S. <br /> RESEARCH. <br /> I HAVE 15 ACRES OF LAND ON THE HAMAKUA THAT IS CURRENTLY <br /> FALLOW AWAITING SOME VIABLE FORM OF APHIS APPROVED <br /> TREATMENT FOR THE CROPS THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR MY NEW <br /> FARM. <br /> IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROPOSED IRRADIATION FACILITY IS THE <br /> ONLY SOLUTION TO OUR CURRENT EXPORT DILEMMA. IF APPROVED, I <br /> COULD CHOSE A SINGLE CROP WITH THE PROSPECT OF EXPANSION AND <br /> BECOME A PROFESSIONAL FARMER. <br /> MY ALTERNATIVE IS TO FOREVER BE A PART TIME GROWER OF <br /> A DOZEN DIFFERENT PRODUCT'S FOR SELECTED NICHE MARKETS. <br /> IN THIS SCENARIO I WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY WORKING <br /> IN THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY. <br /> THIS BRINGS UP THE QUESTION OF JUST WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC <br /> ALTERNATIVES FACING HAWAII IN THE NEXT CENTURY. FEDERAL MONEY <br /> FOR DEFENSE WILL LEVEL OFF OR DECLINE, TOURISM IS STILL FACED WITH <br /> A GLUT OF EMPTY ROOMS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. <br /> REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IS AT A STANDSTILL. <br /> THE FUTURE AS I SEE IT WILL BE THE MARKETING OF HAWAII AS <br /> GIANT THEME PARK WHERE WE ALL PRI~I'END TO BE LIVING <br /> IN SOME SORT OF PRODUCTI VE EXISTENCE. <br /> ~J~~~n? LS~V~I~~~ <br /> Pd ~ ~ ~ SU G4~~ ~ <br /> >n~~ ~,~._~NDIcIP <br /> o~z ~ <br /> <br /> f <br /> ~-/Z, ~ 4 50 73 l;~,r. -s;,: P~ese~r~ <br /> ufa rim APR 2 ~ 1S':~i <br /> <br />