HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.036 2000-2002 K®NA PC~f ~C f~NS C PTI1I -
Processors o~ iMorld
Farraosas Koaaa Comae & A~sadasaairi Meats ` }
P. 0.8ox 626 Kealakekua, Hawes 96750 .
Te! 326-2411 Paac (608j -2414
25 September 2002
Good morning Chairperson and the Ilawaii County council. ~~C:r'iv'try
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'T'hank you for allowing me to testify at this meeting in regards to Daate..~-~______~?__~~_=-:~
Resolution 236-02 Draft 2. County Cauncil
I am Sotero Agoot, manager of Dona Pacific Farmers Cooperative. I have been the
manager of this 300-farmer member marketing and processing entity since 1989.
Dona Pacific Farmers Coop is an agricultural processing and marketing cooperative
that started in 1955 with Dona coffee and continue to do so. In the early 70's we
started Macadamias and now do tropical fruits also. dVe own facilities that have
continually processed Dona coffee since 1910.
I~PFC was the pioneer in getting Dona coffee introduced as a now national and
world renowned gourmet cofffee with Superior Coffee and Food of Chicago in the
early 1960's. We believe in preserving and protecting this industry. The values
gained by all of our farmers continued hard work for nearly 50 years is
irreplaceable.
I~PFC has just acquired a grant to micro-propagate the most original heirloom
cultivars that has made Dona coffee what it is today. This venture is to create a
repository of germplasm that would establish base lines for production and quality.
VVe are also working with I~awaii Agricultural Research Center in developing a
DIVA fingerprinting process to identify Dona cofffee.
~Ve are 300 Dona farming families that are an integral part of the community and
economy. Nigh quality Dona coffee is very important to us and we would very
much like to protect our business, investments and future.
KPFC supports the intent of this resolution to protect the integrity of the Dona
Coffee industry by not allowing genetically modified coffees to be introduced into
the North and South Dona Dastricts.
Thank you for allowing me to submit this testimony
Si. ly
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Manager
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