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BENJAMIN J.CAYETANO <br />Governor <br />Chairman James Arakaki <br />Hawaii County Council <br />25 Aupuni Street <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />State of Hawaii <br />DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />1428 So. King Street <br />Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-2512 <br />April 23, 1997 <br />JAMES J. NAKATANI <br />Chairperson, Board of Agriculture <br />LETITIA N. UYEHARA <br />Deputy to the Chairperson <br />Mailing Address: <br />R O. Box 22159 <br />Honolulu, Hawaii 96823-2159 <br />FAX: (808) 973-9613 <br />RECEIVED <br />Time <br />'j y-----•-- <br />Dafe�°q-i e r„ 7 <br />County Council I' - 7" <br />Council Chairman James Arakaki and Members of the Council: <br />On behalf of Chairperson James Nakatani, I am here to present <br />testimony in support of building an irradiation facility on the <br />Big Island. The testimony of Dr. Lyle Wong, our Plant Division <br />Administrator will detail our research and efforts in this area <br />but I am here to support the initiative of Mayor Yamashiro to <br />have a treatment facility here. <br />The Department has been aggressively moving on this project as <br />a pivotal tool to help agriculture in Hawaii move forward. For <br />years we have talked about a transition taking place in <br />agriculture. It is no longer something that we can just talk <br />about. Many individuals have taken up the challenge and are <br />helping to make diversified agriculture a reality. We now have <br />an obligation to make sure that our growers have a market for <br />their high quality, high value products, otherwise our goals <br />for the expansion of agriculture will remain a myth. <br />Our concern at the State level, as I am sure it is here at the <br />county level, is one of fostering economic development to aid <br />our stagnant economy. For most of our neighbor islands, the <br />key to spur that economic diversity is agriculture. <br />We see the building of a treatment facility not only as a way <br />to foster the development of our fruit and vegetable industries <br />but as a way to help our burgeoning coffee industry, our potted <br />plant and foliage industries as well. <br />Work is currently being done to determine what treatment levels <br />would be appropriate for these other commodities. Japan, a <br />country that some contend is strongly opposed to the use of <br />irradiation, utilizes the technology to treat potatoes coming <br />®oma Dia. Z 12 • ` s q. <br />%b No. <br />�s Het. Y'ot Presented r- <br />�°T Her. _ R_- 2_A ".aa <br />