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crops had been contaminated by a gmo strain that had never been grown commercially. It had merely been field trialed at Louisiana State University in 2000. It was found mostly in Arkansas and Missouri. There have been over 1.2 billion dollars worth of class action lawsuits from this debacle. The Japanese and Europeans are quite aware of this problem. The French made the discovery that the contamination had occurred. This is essential to understand because it is becoming common knowledge that a field trial is sufficient to cause rampant contamination with gmos. A large percentage of Kona Coffee goes to Japan. I know, because I have had many inquiries since winning the competition. No one will want to pay top dollar for a gmo coffee. No gmo crop has ever been grown in the world without finding an avenue to contaminate its conventional counterparts. It always happens. Councilman Yagong is the only current member of this council that was in office when the last gmo coffee resolution was passed by the Council in 2002. Thank you Mr. Yagong for your foresight and willingness to do the right thing in 2002. As you may recall, the entire biotech industry came out in force to fight against the resolution to ban gmo coffee in the Kona districts. We ended up with a resolution that said we would not have gmo coffee until a regional regulatory protocol was in place. One year later the coffee industry met with the Department of Agriculture and CTAHR, and informed them that we did not want a protocol, we just did not want it planted at all. To this date, we have nothing in writing to prevent someone from getting a permit to plant a field trial, or to do a commercial planting in our state. We must have this protection. That is what this bill is asking for. As my county council, I ask you to please support this bill. Protect our county's most viable and historic agricultural product. It is your duty. Mahalo, Una Greenaway 328-8888