HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.283 1996-1998 _ Uri
United Presh Fruit
COU?d & Vegetable Association.
C+~U1J~ Ur HAWAII 727 North Wa4hingco~ $trccr Alcx~ndnx, vA 22314
(703)836-3410 egx(703)836.7745
TELECOPY TRANSNIISSION
May 6, 1997
T0: Honorable James R. Arakaki
Chaizman
COMPANY: Hawaii County Council
FAX 8081969-3291
FROM: John M. McClung
Vice President for Industry Relations
RE: Bill No. 62, To Fund aPost-l-Iarvest Treatrnent Facility from General Obligation
Bonds and/or Other Sources for the Fiscal Year July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997
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CC's ' United Fresh Fruit
COUNTY 01= HAWAII & Vegetable Association
i27 North Washington Sveec Alexandria, VA 21314
p03) g36-3470 Fa7((703) R36-7745
May 6, 1997
ViA TELECOPY
honorable James R. Arakaki
Chairman., Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawali 96720
Re: Bill No. 62, To Fund aPost-Harvest Treatment Facility from General Obligation
Bonds and/or Other Sources for the Fiscal Year July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997
Deaz Mr. Chairman:
This letter is submitted by the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (United).
Founded in 1904, United is the only national trade organvation that represenu the interests of
producers and distributors of commercial quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. United
represents the business interests of growers, shippers, processors, brokers, wholesalers and
distributors of produce, working together with our customers at retail, foodservice, our suppliers
at every step in the distribution chain, and our international partners. This letter is submitted in
support of passage of Bill No. 62, To Fund aPost-Harvest Treatment Facility from General
Obligation Bonds andlor Other Sources for the Fiscal Year July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997.
United supports this legislation because it encourages the export of diversified crops from
Hawaii. United appreciates that Hawaii's unique biome contains pests which cannot be allowed
access to the U.S. mainland. Irradiation, also known as "picowave treatment," has been
determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be a safe and effective means of
controlligg such pests. Picowave treatment should also maintain product quality, and may also
prove a suitable alternative to current decontamination treatments. Ultimately, increased exports
of Hawaiian fruits and vegetab]es to the U.S. mainland and elsewhere will benefit not only the
Hawaiian produce industry, but the U-S. mainland consumer as well.
United appreciates that the technology involved in picowave treattent of food is the subject
of substantial public interest. We fumly believe that a reasoned examination of the enhanced
levels of food safety, quality, and availabi]ity made possible by use of picowave treatment on
appropriate products will lead to increased consumer acceptatlce of the technology. Further, we
Letter to Honorable James R. Arakaki
May 6, 1997
Page 2
deplore ehe misleading and inflammatory language employed to attack this technology, as it is
wholly unsupported by good sense and good science.
We thank the Hawaii County Council for the opportunity to comment on the pending
legislation and we look forwazd to the expansion of the marketplace for the Hawaiian produce
industry on the U.S. mainland.
Yours truly,
r
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O 7 f
John M. McCI ng
Vice President for Industry Relations
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