HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.110 1996-1998 IRRADIATION IS HOPE
MY NAME IS BRIAN LIEVENS, I AM A SMALL FARMER IN KONA AND I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED IRRADIATION PLANT IN HAWAII.
HAVING SPENT THE LAST 8 YEARS RESEARCHING, GROWING, AND
MARKETING TROPICAL FRUIT I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT EXPORT
BARRIERS WE FACE IN SELLING OUR PRODUCE OUT OF STATE:
MOST OF THE NEW TREE CROPS THAT SHOW THE GREATEST PROMISE
HAVE BEEN PLANTED IN SUFFICIENT NUMI3ERS TO MEET' LOCAL DEMAND,
AND MARKET SATURATION IN THE ISLANDS WILL OCCUR IN LESS THAN 10
YEARS.
EVEN IF HAWAIIAN FARMERS WERE TO TRY TO COMPETE WITH
MAINLAND GROWERS TO RECAPTURE LOCAL PRODUCE MARKETS THEY
WOULD EXIST WITHIN VERY NARROW MARGINS. THE VAST TRACKS OF
CANE LAND WOULD CON'TINUETO BE UNDERUTIt,IZED.
FOR AGRICULTURE TO BE A MAJOR ECONOMIC FORCE IN THE
ISLANDS WE MUST LOOK TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPORTS.
THIS GLOBAL APPROACH IS POSSIBLE IF WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE POST-
HARVEST TREATMENT FACILITY.
THE LAST DECADE HAS SEEN MANY ATTEMPTS AT CERTIFICATION
VIA HOT AND COLD TREATMENTS IN VARIOUS SCENARIOS AND FOR MANY
FRUITS. THESE HAVE FAILED.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS LYCHEE, SUBJECTED TO TREATMENT TO FRUIT
FLY, IT WAS A SUCCESS, HOWEVER IT IS STILL NOT EXPORTABLE BECAUSE
OF SEED BORER. TAIWAN, WHICH HAS A LYCHEE INDUSTRY, AND FRUIT
FLY, BUT NO SEED BORER IS THE DIRECT' BENEFICIARY OF U.S.
RESEARCH.
I HAVE 15 ACRES OF LAND ON THE HAMAKUA THAT IS CURRENTLY
FALLOW AWAITING SOME VIABLE FORM OF APHIS APPROVED
TREATMENT FOR THE CROPS THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR MY NEW
FARM.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROPOSED IRRADIATION FACILITY IS THE
ONLY SOLUTION TO OUR CURRENT EXPORT DILEMMA. IF APPROVED, I
COULD CHOSE A SINGLE CROP WITH THE PROSPECT OF EXPANSION AND
BECOME A PROFESSIONAL FARMER.
MY ALTERNATIVE IS TO FOREVER BE A PART TIME GROWER OF
A DOZEN DIFFERENT PRODUCT'S FOR SELECTED NICHE MARKETS.
IN THIS SCENARIO I WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY WORKING
IN THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY.
THIS BRINGS UP THE QUESTION OF JUST WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC
ALTERNATIVES FACING HAWAII IN THE NEXT CENTURY. FEDERAL MONEY
FOR DEFENSE WILL LEVEL OFF OR DECLINE, TOURISM IS STILL FACED WITH
A GLUT OF EMPTY ROOMS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IS AT A STANDSTILL.
THE FUTURE AS I SEE IT WILL BE THE MARKETING OF HAWAII AS
GIANT THEME PARK WHERE WE ALL PRI~I'END TO BE LIVING
IN SOME SORT OF PRODUCTI VE EXISTENCE.
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