HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.029 2000-2002 lilueJourny~u aol.com •a7ote:
Frorn: B1tzeJourny~aol.carn
Date: rue, 10 Sap 2002 00:26;24 CDT
Subject: Moratorium on GM co~'ee
Dear Cllairwoztran'
ate: 1tCSOlution 336 Co[nzriurrieza?iurr 728
I turn writing to urge you to approve this resolution and forward it to the full council for r~vicw. Tarn a
coffee grower . I htrve s florae acre coffee farrra and attend to plant anot$er 4 - ~ erns ut 1Cuaeai lylioa on a
second farm. , It is important Far my curtest and future farms and those of the other 600 plus farmers,
employees, suppliers and local conttuunities tlltrt'the integrity of Kona coffee is maintained . The
potential for contamination throagh cross pollination from non Kona typica coffees is alnwst guaranteed.
There are Luny stew farm owners who are inexperienced and would not be aware of the consequences that
would u,,cur if a CM co~fcc wero plantsd in 1Goaa and the cross pollinated seeds vtrerP naetl fur fu[Itre
pltwtings. 'While it's our (copfee growers) responsibility to be involved in the education process, once the
GM coffee is here the equvilcnt of the opening Pandora's box will have occttred .
Kona typica is a stable variety developed over 150 years of coffee growing in Kona and selection oP the
heat etrerries to ttsc in new and tcAlacelnetit platrtangs. It is recognised as the "best of the best".
Coffees grown on ocher Islands 'Within Hawaii state have not flared well in a market looking at ~~a1ue .
Something special is required to receive the prices Kon2i coffee receives ,prices that arc: necessary to allow
LCnua cof~oo fi>~•nnare to Eurvi~ve. Kama Coffee has a wett_rleaen.•ed reputation for quality and richness.
'This is a reptuation that has been eased over many years. It is a reputation that allows farmers in a firer
world country to charge the prices that cover first world landllabor and supply costs in a market where
competition rs alrrtost entirely third orfbtut2i world
I am a member or the Kona Coffee Council and doe Kona County Fartt? Bureau and I was at the meeliags
both groups held when they voted overwhelmingly tq set allow GiMU colf'ee to be teste~i/grown unW arld
unless rigorous legally enforceatble safeguards were iu place and there was (col~ee) community
invulve~ent and approval. Ai the previously mentioned Kane Farm .Surenu meeting; the Dean of the
College of Tropical Agriculture and Huunan Resources was file feattared speaker, i~c spoke after the GM
coffee votC had been taken. He acknowledged the vote and its izaportance in his speech and said that he
wants w n;opuul lu the fanY?crs sand if the farrnera don't want GM coffee in Koxaa then he (tt?*ougir his
position at the University) would make sure we (Kona -North arui South) would not have GM coffee
introduced by or folder the auspices of the L'nivels9.ty. Thir•, was tYret by hearty applause.
'ITtattk you for your time and attention and for bringing dlese isstaes to the attention of bath the Committee
and flee ('.rnrntYy Council. It is very itportant to our future; as growers of the world's best coffee that its
integrity at the gametic sod at the cup level be maudairted.
Siuccac;ty,
Stefanie Deltnont and John Matucha
Blue Jousaey Cafiwe Farm
808 32S - 7156
bluejourny(c~aol.com
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