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HAWAII ORGANIC FARMERS ASSOCIATION Address: P.O. Box 6863, Hilo, H/ 96720-8935 Ph: (808) 969-7789 Fax: (808) 969-7759 Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org www. ha waiiorganicfarmers. org HOFA 2007 eoard.ofDireceors: ~ To: Hawaii County Council Frani Weber President From: Elisha Goodman, on behalf of HOFA Micnael aims - Date: Thursda Janu 23, 2008 Vice President Y~ Dave Gelher ~ o t TfeasUfef .SUb)CCt: In SUppOrt Of Res. 4fi3-OB: "Suppons H. B. 1577 H. D. 1 to Temporarily Prohibit the Growing of Genetically ^ - Motlifetl Coffee for a Period o(Five Years, and at the Same Time, Permit Research in an Environmentally Secure Facility. (Urges the Elisha GOOdman Hawaii State Legislature to pass H. B. 1577 H. D. 1, however, does not support locating the research facility within the County of SBCfetafy ' . ~ ' , Hawai'i.F; and EMC-12." Curtis F~Itstram - - ~ , oanu Director-at-Large Members of the Council, thank you for hearing this testimony. I am Elisha Patti vaieniiiie Goodman and am here to testify on behalf of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Kauai'Diri:aor.at-Large ~ ' Association (HOFA) in strong support of Res. 463-08. Rosa Russell Kauai Director=at-t:arge The beginning of HOFA's official policy on GMOs reads as follows: cenincartomcomm>tree: The Hawaii Organic Farmers Association believes that the life of the land and Alfred Wylie-chair ~ a sustainable economy will both improve without the implementation of saran Greenbaum: ' genetic engineering, provided that, more research and education are put forth for organic, ecologically sustainable land care practices. Therefore, we Terri Langiey~-~~ ~ enerall o ose the use o enetic en ineerin in a riculture. Ours eci zc Louisa Wboton g y pp f g g g g p f directives on the use of genetically modified organisms are as follows: eoard of Trustees." 1. Impose a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms Luy Boerner (GMO) into the environment until a regulatory regime has been adopted David Bourgom ~ that includes extensive evaluation of environmental consequences and Dlana Dam secondary ecological effects, as well as pre-market safety testing of Vincent Mina genetically modified foods and ingredients. Damian Pam The livelihoods of HOFA's organic farmers and all coffee farmers throughout the Bob snaffer state are directly threatened by the prospect of GMO coffee being grown in Hawaii. Hawaii's Coffee farmers, especially our 600 and some Kona Coffee Admlalsrraeors: farmers, command one of the highest price points in the world for their coffee Kelly ~ang~.- because it is specialty, gourmet coffee. The Specialty Coffee Association of Education Program Dlrector cenification coordinator' America has stated that GMO coffee is not considered Gourmet. As such it "Haire" Susan B. Sanford would never command a high price point. Should GMO coffee be grown here, it office Administrator. _ would contaminate our specialty crop and be devastating to our coffee farmers Deboran ward ' ~ whose contaminated product would only get a fraction of the price that our Duality contra or6cer.' gotrrmet coffee can command. Thank you for your time. Elisha Goodman, HOFA Board Member HOFA MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to protect the life of the land and the health of our communities through education about organic land care practices. We believe that developing and strengthening certified organic farms would enhance Hawaii's many fragile ecosystems and be a base for a local sustainable economy.