HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.311 1996-1998 HAMAKUA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
1483 HAWAII BELT HIGHWAY rn--n "-"r';
HILO, HAWAII 96720
(808) 961-6353 ,9? ~1flY ~ 9 'i8
COUf:'~~;
GOUNIY Ur HAWAII
Mr. James Arakaki, Chairman April 7, 1997
& Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
I am here today representing the Hamakua County Farm Bureau to
support Mayor Stephen Yamashiro's proposed irradiation facility for
the Big Island's agricultural industry.
As a budding organization of 35 farm and ranch families in Hamakua,
we are well aware of the pitfalls in Hawaii's agricultural industry.
Most of us have experienced the frustrations of low prices for our
products, diseases, insects and drought. But we are a persistent
bunch who hang in there believing that things will get better even in
economically depressed Hamakua. The irradiation facility may be
the boost we need to jump-start our industry and enable us to export
more of our products and compete more efficiently with imports for
a larger share of the local market.
The proposed post-harvest irradiation facility is anon-issue as far as
we're concerned. It should be the consumers who are willing to buy
and try irradiated food products to decide the fate of such a facility,
not people or group with personal agendas. The bottom line is -you
don't tell me what not to eat and I won't expect you to buy my
treated fruits and vegetables. We each have a choice and that is as it
should be.
Mahalo & Aloha,
Robert Shioji, Presid~t
Hamakua County Farm Bureau
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