HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.326 1996-1998 ID~ MRY 06'97 15 02 No .006 P~ O1\
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May 6, 199"1
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C~UNTy .
1'ax to; Mayor Stephen Yemashiro ~o*.lt'
County Council Members (via Councilman Artilgtki) '~AbVAI!
From: Rick Vidgen
President
MacFarms of Hawait
Dear Mayor Yamashlro, wld County Counori Members:
I regret I will be unable to attend the May 7°i meeting of the council to support the
proposed irradiation faetllry. T have attached testimony already prevented to the
Pinance Committee and would note that my position is now even more strongly
supportive.
1 would suggoat that this le fast becominP a much wider lssuo than ItraJiaQon and
unnooeesarily palariz(ng the cnmmunlty,
[t IB really jllet about burvival, l.e„ those who wish to be pro-active and survive and
those who, whether throuelt naive idealism or outright ignorance, believe "someone
else" will pay for our future.
I cannot understand how a group from Vermont with no stake in the island's future cart
sway the presumably unlttformed maeacs to believing this project ip
• "Life throatening,"
"Mother attack on Hawaiian culture,"
Rte., etc„ through the litany of nonsense written by people In the local papers.
Unfortunately, it will always be the txg-tag and vc>,cal few (who always seem to be
available on Hormel work days!) who get attention.
i can only suggest that thinking and thoughtful people will be fn support.
3i rely, ,~r~r,/
RI k Vidgen r
Cc: Couneiltnan John Santangelo, D. Qtlitiryuit, d. Reynolds Com>n. ~a~~~ '
P11e t(o.~~
presented
ReF. Tot M
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ID• MAY 06'97 15 02 No .006,P.02
May 6, 1997
'L'aatGriepy t0 ji~aWali~0011~Y COUDdI
itegarding the development of a post-harve8t treatment faolHty (irradiation) in the
County of Hawaii.
Mayor Stophen Yamaehlro, Council Members:
MacFatme owns and operates one of the world's largest macadamia businueea -
growittg and processing macadamia on the South Kona COaat of the Hig Nand, than
exporting and selling arounA S2S million of macadamias around tho world.
Th18 testimony le 1n support of the proposal to estnblleh an irradisdon facility on the
Blg ie]and for poet harvest treatment of tropical agricultural products.
MaoPatans will nos attempt to argue the "moral" and suDDvsad safety issues of
irradiation. However, we do believe that there was an iratereetingly similar amount of
induced hysteria at ttte time that;
• Columbus wsntod to sell around the world
• Steam trains earted running
Automobiles replaced horses
• Womeu doctors efattod practioing
All of these were to have led to the downtkll of society nt lltat time.
As a mdJor producer and exporter of agricultural products, it ie quite obvious to ue that
tho llfbblood of any agrioultu~nl industry is not production but marketing. The key
players in the macadamia industry (MacParms, Mauna Loa and Hnwallan Host -
repreesndng close to 90% of Hawaii's macadamia revonue) are key because of thou
marketing -not. their production or proeeeeing facllitle8.
The exwnsivn of this is that if Hawaii wishes to maintain !ts ntral eulturo and aprarlan
lifertylo as well se its economic viability, then markots and the markedng of iu
agricultural produce are vitally impotYattt.
The mainlsuut opposition to Hawaii's (supposedly) risky products will not go away -
nor wfU It be satisfied by any means other than Irradiation treatment. Thus the
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ID~ MRY 06'97 1502 No .006;P,.Q3
proposed Irradiation ~clliry is not a matter of choke - it ie simple neeesslty if we are to
feed our population.
For those who would opposC this for various ro+ratms, dta quostion la "flow also will
you survive end fend people?" Given the (statewide) dtcllne of tourism., the reduction
of the military and the redutton of welfare beneflu • along with the decline of sugar,
pineapp]e, etc., this Is a difficult but vary real iuue.
The proposed irradiation facility Is a logical and sensible way forward for an oconomy
that neode very badly to find other income ewrbos,
7f you are from out of state, or can count ot+ suboidized living fmm federal or Ather
sources, this may not matter, However, for most of those who are not, and who cart
about the fliwre et;onomle viability of this island, tiro ability to be able to sell tta
agricultural produet8 le crltIcal.
We have heard that ehs use of such a facility wind "taint" nil island agricultural
products. As a moor exporter (the second biggest on the island) we see this as
nonsense and discount it completely.
CC V
President
IvlacParms of Hawaii
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