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<br /> H 1 CA HAWAII ISLAND CONTRACTOR&`-AS8QCIATION <br /> 494 C KALANIKOA STREET HILO, HAWAII 96720 TELEPHONE (808) 935-1316 <br /> Thu~~a~P~p~i1~4,~1~9~ 25 <br /> HONORABLE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS CCU?\ - <br /> COUNT ( U, HAWAII <br /> It is the position of The Hawaii Island Contractors' Association that food irradiation is one <br /> singularly important way to enhance the safety and quality of the food supply, and to open <br /> access to a lucrative U.S. mainland consumer market for Hawaii Island's farmers. <br /> The Hawaii Island Contractors' Association encourages the government, food manufacturers, <br /> food commbtlity groups, and qualified professionals to continue working together in educating <br /> consumers about this safe and proven technology. <br /> The Hawaii Island Contractors' Association supports the measure to fund the development of the <br /> post harvest treatment facility by irradiation for two distinct reasons: <br /> 1) Economics -With the demise of our island's sugar industry, our growers, large and small, are <br /> becoming more competitive. Hawaii Island growers are working together and sharing information <br /> that they receive from agencies like the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii County's Research <br /> & Development office. Growers presently are developing a diverse array of agricultural products <br /> to maintain our agrarian way of life. These hard working people, adjusting to the recent economic <br /> changes in our county, face their greatest challenge, and that is - getting their product to a larger <br /> market outside this state. <br /> To protect mainland growers from fruit fly infestation, Hawaii growers are required by law to use a <br /> post harvest treatment. The market requires that Hawaii growers' produce must be affordable <br /> and of high quality. The growers' families require that they realize a profit from their work. <br /> Irradiation is the only post harvest treatment to meet all three requirements. To just maintain the <br /> economy we presently have, we need the irradiation process. <br /> To expand our markets, we also need the irradiation process. Irradiation will open other markets <br /> that can't get enough of our unique products. Profit will be dependent on the amount a farmer can <br /> grow and how many markets he can access for his products. Irradiation can be the road to the <br /> American Dream for many of our island farmers. We can all win with the irradiation! <br /> 1 cn~„«.. ~0.212.1~fV <br /> xa. FNS C1P <br /> Prasenred <br /> Ref. To:_ <br /> Ref. I?ate__ APR 2 r _ 199j_ w <br /> <br />