HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.076 1996-1998 22 April 1997 R r
Mr. Aaron Chung ' 97 APR 22 Pal 2 1?
Chairman Finance Committee COUi :
COUNTY GF HAVVAII
County Council County of Hawaii
Special Meeting to Consider Funding for the Establishment of an Irradiation
Facility in the County of Hawaii for the Post Harvest Treatment of Tropical Fruit
and Other Items
THE FOLLOWING TESTIMONY IS IN FAVOR OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
SUCH A FACILITY
Deaz Mr. Chung and Members of the Finance Committee:
I wish to submit the following testimony in favor of establishing an eradiation
facility for the post harvest treatment of tropical fruit and possibly other items
in order to facilitate their movement to mazket.
By way of introduction, I moved to the Big Island in 1971 from Tokyo, where I
was the Regional Manager for the Asia Pacific Region for the United Fruit
Company, responsible fora 10,000 acre banana plantation in the Philippines
and an importing, processing, distribution, and marketing joint venture with
six major Japanese trading companies, in Japan. In addition, I was in charge
of our diversification and acquisition program throughout the region which q
Conx~n. C+o.2~2•~'~
File Nu. FfL~ I C,P
I• Etef. To: PrQSent~r~ FL
I}ate APR 2 ~ 1997____
included Hawaii, situated between our Japanese and other Asian activities and
corporate headquarters in Boston.
These responsibilities brought me through Hawaii many times, and enabled me
to observe fast hand the early efforts to introduce Hawaiian papayas to the
Japanese market. One of the reasons for moving to Hawaii and the Big Island
in particular was to took into the feasibility of developing the production of
tropical fruit for export to the Continental US and Japanese markets. During
the early seventies, I worked closely with the UHH, Hawaii State Department of
Agriculture, the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Tri Fly Program
in an effort to solve the quarantine restrictions facing the export of tropical fruit
from Hawaii. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in these efforts, and I went
on to become involved in the flower, foliage, and plant business where the
agricultural restrictions were not as severe. We made one last try in
cooperation with a business school alumnus who was trying to use industrial
revenue bonds to finance the establishment of an irradiation facility here on
the Big Island. Those efforts also proved futile due to a strong vocal opposition
on grounds other than scientific and economic. Now it appears that we have
another opportunity to review the potential risks and benefits of such a facility,
and hopefully this time we will be able to come to a different conclusion.
I have only recently returned to the Big Island after nearly two years of living
and working in Thailand and travelling extensively in South, Southeast, and
East Asia. What impressed me the most about the emerging economies of Asir
2.
was their vitality and will to improve their quality of life and standard of living.
I also saw many of the problems that accompany such rapid economic
development, but efforts were and are being made to deal with these as well.
In each of these countries, both the government and the majority of the people
are trying to reap the benefits of economic development while maintaining their
unique cultural and ethical values.
When I returned to the Big Island, I saw a depressed economy, increased
unemployment, thousands of acres of good agricultural land lying fallow, the
disappearance of the plantation economy and most of the small businesses
that supported it, the closing of numerous restaurants and retail stores, and
many other economic problems affecting the quality of life and standard of
living of the people of the Big Island.
The dramatic difference between the Big Island and the emerging economies of
Asia is that while they were moving ahead and struggling with the problems of
economic development, we were moving backwards and struggling with the
problems of a declining economy with very few bright prospects on the horizon.
One such prospect is the small but growing tropical fruit industry. All the
factors necessary for the development and expansion of the tropical fruit
industry into a major economic force on the island are in place, except one.
Consumer acceptance is high; market demand exceeds supply; shipping and
air service is available; land is plentiful; farmers and entrepreneurs are anxious
to move ahead; and so on, but agricultural restrictions prohibit export to the
V.
main markets of Continental US and Japan without various post harvest
treatments mainly to get rid of the various fruit fly infestations. Currently
approved post harvest treatments are inadequate, cumbersome, costly, and in
general unsatisfactory for the expansion of the industry.
On the other hand, post harvest treatment by means of irradiation could pave
the way for the advancement of the industry. Food 'eradiation is a proven
technology, used in nearly 40 countries, and effective on tropical fruits from
Hawaii.
Even though our earlier efforts to establish a food irradiation facility on the Big
Island were defeated on mostly emotional grounds, we now have a rare second
chance to try again. The opportunity once again presents itself in the form of a
company willing to invest in such a facility. The tropical fruit industry supports
such a facility, and so should we, for the benefits that it can bring to our
economy. Any financial and other assistance that the County Government can
make available will further the development of the most promising industry
that we have seen on the Big Island in a long time.
Lest opponents of this facility think that I am in favor of development
regardless of the social and environmental cost, I propose that the paramount
responsibility of both government and all concerned citi2ens is the following:
1. To ensure that such a facility would bring no harm to the environment.
2. To guarantee that workers in such a facility are safe from the effects of
radiation and other hazards.
3. To ascertain that the products processed are safe for the consumers.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Finance Committee, I urge you to vote in
favor of helping this industry for the benefits that it would bring to our
community.
Respectfully submitted,
~~-~.~MJ~. .
ul ervdic,.Jr.
S,