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<br /> <br /> <br /> Testimony to County CounI Wednesday August 5,1998. Janine Postlewait <br /> Friends of Agriculture-Hawaii page 1 <br /> <br /> My name is Janine Postlewait and I would like to give you a little background on myself <br /> <br /> and events in my life that have brought me to this point, speaking to you here today. <br /> <br /> Eight years ago my husband and I and our three preschool children moved to the Big <br /> <br /> Island from Washington State, having committed to buying a piece of sugar cane land <br /> <br /> on the Hamakua Coast with visions of having an orchard on which we could raise our <br /> <br /> children and provide an income for ourselves. We had chosen an orchard as we <br /> <br /> thought this would be a good use of the land, being able to provide an income for <br /> <br /> ourselves and for our children, when they were grown. The Big Island seemed one of <br /> <br /> the last places that this vision could be achieved, as land was affordable. We had no <br /> <br /> experience in agriculture but only a strong desire and vision for our family. In looking <br /> <br /> for fruit trees to plant on our land, my husband met a tropical fruit farmer who had a two <br /> <br /> year old orchard and was selling young grafted trees. He was also willing to share his <br /> <br /> expertise and help us establish our own orchard of these high value fruits. Since <br /> <br /> coming to the Big Island our family has grown to include two more children. We have <br /> <br /> worked very hard and with great satisfaction on planting and establishing our orchard. <br /> <br /> Our only source of income over the years has been my husband's income from working <br /> <br /> construction jobs here and on Oahu. My time has been fully occupied raising our <br /> <br /> children and working on our orchard. Our vision of being full-time farmers seemed to <br /> <br /> be drawing closer, especially in 1997 when we received the first fruits of our labor, <br /> <br /> money from our first Rambutan crop that was sent to Chicago to be irradiated and sold <br /> <br /> on the mainland. That is when I began educating myself about irradiation, What was it? <br /> <br /> RECENEo <br /> <br /> t1me..------ . <br /> pore.----c- <br /> our,ty coundt p 2 <br /> Gomm. Na._ 7,) ~b <br /> Fite No. I i ' 7F <br /> Ref. To: Presented Gavin.." <br /> ad. p, AUG 5 1998 <br />