HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.249 1996-1998 05/06/1997 00:12 8089668776 ROZETT'S NURSERY
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~facva~i ,Export JVursery Assacia~ion `
S/5/97 ~
'97 ~ifV 6 I?i~l 11 52
Councilman James Arakaki 1 ~1/
25 Aupuni St. CO'~~J _
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 COON I Y U; HAWAII
Fax 969-3291
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Dear Councilman,
The H
await Export Nursery Association wishes to express ow staunch ~
.`~1
support of the proposed Post-Harvest Treatracnt Project using Cobalt based t~`1
Irradiation Technology. In ow examination of the project proposal we arc confidrnt
that the technology is sound, controllable and effective. Although immedia lioetjons
for ow Industry are unknown, we look forward to developing procedures to out~ve _7
foliage products for foreign export. It is apparent that this process will alto airs ' ` i
exotic produce to be shipped worldwide with minimal quarantine problems-;The a' '
arguments against this facility that we have encountered did not approach tfidissue~om a
logical, factual basis but rather from an emotional one with unsubstantiated~tc~pag~pda.
We feel it is critical that the Council consider only the verifiable and accw~ ;c(ata htt' 1
assessing the benefits to the Community. One must consider that the propoasnts o~uit
fly eradication as an alternative have not acknowledged that
l . The effort to eradicate has been ongoing in Hawaii for decades with substantial
but only partial results. (Federal Quarantine has a ZERO tolerance policy)
2. Methods used in eradication such as aerial spraying of Malathion over
residential neighborhoods (as in California) havc their Envirotunental
Impacts as well.
3. The cost of a (possibly) total eradication program for Hawaii is currently
deemed to be financially impractical.
In short there is currently no other viable alternative treatment program that is
available to process the broad range of products that are now grown or could be grown in
the future. Statements made (a recent non-factual HTH full page ad) likening this
technology to a Plutonium based Nuclear reactor are unfounded and call to question the
credibility of the group sponsoring such propaganda. We recognize that the Council must
often rule on controversial issues, and that this issue has generated substantial response
both pro and con. We know that you must always weigh risk and gain. This is after all
the challenge of progress. We feel that as you review the facts in this situation you will
conclude as we have, that it is a safe, controllable and viable solution to maintaining
Hawaii's Diversified Agricultural base, employing our farmers and contributing to a
more secwe economic future.We implore you to support this measure wholeheartedly and
approve the funding for this facility.
Mahalo,
coma. Dfo. t~s. L49
The d ofDirectors, await Export Nursery Association B71e 1'~0. FNO Ictf'
I1ef. 'tbi Prasenred ~
lbf. A1~M7?Y
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N.O. Box 11120 - liifo, Hawaii 96721 -Phone or Fax (808) 969-2088 ~ ,