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¦ The papaya industry, which is the only tropical fruit industry capable of significant year- round production, and necessary to establishing the minimum quantity of throughput to support an irradiation facility, is using anon-nuclear method which is cost effective, preserves freshness while controlling pests, and is acceptable under organic certification requirements. Aside from the vapor heat method being used on papaya, there are other technologies which have proven successful experimentally and may be superior to the vapor heat method such as a dry heat technology. We have not fully explored the commercial possibilities of alternative, non-nuclear methods ofpost-harvest treatment for papaya and other fruits. Trials conducted on the new ringspot resistant variety indicate that this variety responds well to the vapor heat process currently in use. What tests have been done on the new genetically-engineered papaya variety to see if it performs well under irradiation? According to a Cooperative Extension agent who has performed extensive tests at the commercial food irradiation facility in Florida, the results of irradiation are variety specific meaning you can not extrapolate from data describing tests on other varieties. All but a few of the large papaya producers in the state are under contract to the existing treatment plants which currently support excess capacity. Dole which recently planted 600 acres of papaya on Oahu (more than''/4 of the state's current acreage in papaya) intends to build and operate a vapor heat plant Currently there are less than 500 acres in exotic tropical fruits, producing barely a million pounds of fruit. There are only six members of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Cooperative. Therefore I question the fairness of appropriating county funds to support a facility which will only benefit a minimal number of producers across the state. ¦ Since an irradiation plant is seen by the County Office of Research and Development as a means to develop export markets only (Reference Lois Datta'a Interview with Margarita Hopkins), consumers of the state will not benefit at all. Why should the County subsidize upscale niche market consumption on the mainland? ¦ It is also clear that no serious economic analysis has been conducted which would quantify the direct and indirect benefits of such an investment in export markets for tropical fruits (Lois Datta/Nlargarita Hopkins). A serious look has not been given to the size of potential markets for tropical fruits on the mainland. A two-year research project recently completed at the University of Florida does identify markets for exotic tropical fruits and their potential, yet no one has mentioned an awareness of this reseazch. Neither has consideration been given to the magnitude of competition in fresh exotic tropical fruits which will result from increased plantings in Florida after Hurricane Andrew hit in ]992. According to Jonathan Crane (Cooperative Extension agent in Homestead Florida), producers in Florida are successfully using cold treatment on star fruit and hot dip on mangos to ship into California, Arizona, and Texas. Also, Florida growers have decreased their acreage in Mango in response to increased competition from Mexico. Florida is not under quarantine to other states for these fruits. Florida is not under quarantine to any state for the in shipment of Longans, Lychees, and other exotic tropical fruits. With 530 acres planted in star fruit and nearly 900 acres in Longans and Lychees, Florida is increasing its plantings of exotic tropical fruits. 2