Laserfiche WebLink
r,,--.-~, <br /> L1~~. <br /> '~7 fii~Y 5 PP1 11 25 ~ <br /> CC's ' United Fresh Fruit <br /> COUNTY 01= HAWAII & Vegetable Association <br /> i27 North Washington Sveec Alexandria, VA 21314 <br /> p03) g36-3470 Fa7((703) R36-7745 <br /> May 6, 1997 <br /> <br /> ViA TELECOPY <br /> <br /> honorable James R. Arakaki <br /> Chairman., Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> Hilo, Hawali 96720 <br /> Re: Bill No. 62, To Fund aPost-Harvest Treatment Facility from General Obligation <br /> Bonds and/or Other Sources for the Fiscal Year July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997 <br /> Deaz Mr. Chairman: <br /> This letter is submitted by the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (United). <br /> Founded in 1904, United is the only national trade organvation that represenu the interests of <br /> producers and distributors of commercial quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. United <br /> represents the business interests of growers, shippers, processors, brokers, wholesalers and <br /> distributors of produce, working together with our customers at retail, foodservice, our suppliers <br /> at every step in the distribution chain, and our international partners. This letter is submitted in <br /> support of passage of Bill No. 62, To Fund aPost-Harvest Treatment Facility from General <br /> Obligation Bonds andlor Other Sources for the Fiscal Year July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997. <br /> United supports this legislation because it encourages the export of diversified crops from <br /> Hawaii. United appreciates that Hawaii's unique biome contains pests which cannot be allowed <br /> access to the U.S. mainland. Irradiation, also known as "picowave treatment," has been <br /> determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be a safe and effective means of <br /> controlligg such pests. Picowave treatment should also maintain product quality, and may also <br /> prove a suitable alternative to current decontamination treatments. Ultimately, increased exports <br /> of Hawaiian fruits and vegetab]es to the U.S. mainland and elsewhere will benefit not only the <br /> Hawaiian produce industry, but the U-S. mainland consumer as well. <br /> United appreciates that the technology involved in picowave treattent of food is the subject <br /> of substantial public interest. We fumly believe that a reasoned examination of the enhanced <br /> levels of food safety, quality, and availabi]ity made possible by use of picowave treatment on <br /> appropriate products will lead to increased consumer acceptatlce of the technology. Further, we <br /> <br />