HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.070 2000-2002 K®N~, C®UNIY FeAR1V~ BUREAU
P.O.Box 2341
Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
September 25, 2002
Mr. James Arakaki, Chairman
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street _
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members:
RE: Resolution 236 and Communication 728
The Kona County Farm Bureau represents all commodities of the agricultural industry in
North and South Kona and has a current base of 235 members. With coffee a major crop
in our districts, many of our members are growers, processors or marketers of Kona coffee.
Our members include industry pioneers, estate coffee growers, family farmers, industry
leaders and coffee marketers. They have worked hard for many years, or even decades
to grow a premium product that is internationally recognized as such. It is of critical
importance to the industry to maintain the integrity of the Kona coffee cultivars in order
to protect our niche markets.
The Kona County Farm Bureau recognizes the importance of the issue of genetically
modified plant materials to the Kona coffee farmers. The Kona County Farm Bureau
proposes to coordinate and facilitate an ongoing educational forum to include all parties
affected by the proposed moratorium on the release and planting ofgenetically modified
coffee in the Districts of North and South Kona. Participants in this forum would include
members of the Kona coffee industry and representatives from the University of Hawaii
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Agriculture Research
Center, Integrated Coffee Technologies, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, United States
Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Services, Hawaii Farm Bur
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Federation and its Commodity Advisory Group, Hawaii Organic Farmers Association,
Hawaii County Council and all other interested parties.
This educational forum would have the following objectives:
~ Voice the concerns of the Kona coffee industry relating to the release of
genetically modified coffde plant material to the appropriate research institutions
and government agencies.
~ Update the Kona coffee industry on current and/or completed research involving
genetically modified coffee in Hawaii and elsewhere.
~ Inform the Kona coffee industry of all federal and state regulations currently in
place regarding the planting of genetically modified coffee in Hawaii.
~ Initiate a process for the establishment of a regional review protocol, including a
review committee, to develop policy prior to the release of genetically modified
coffee in Norfh and South Kona.
Thank you for the opportunity to offer this proposal as a means to find the solution to a
very important issue to the agricultural community.
Sincerely,
CQ,~.s.~
oward Yamas i
President