HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.189 1996-1998
BENJAMIN J. CAYETANO JAMES J.NAKATANI
Governor '4 Chairperson, Board of Agriculture
{ LETITIA N. UVEHARA
®.y Deputy to the Chairperson
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Mailing Address:
State of Hawaii P. O. Box 22759
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Honolulu, Hawaii 96823-2159
1428 So. King Street FAX: (808)973-9613
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-2512
April 23, 1997
Chairman James Arakaki
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Council Chairman James Arakaki and members of the council:
My name is Lyle Wong. I am Administrator of the Plant Industry
Division of the State Department of Agriculture.
I am here to support the establishment of a post harvest
irradiation treatment facility for Hawaii.
For nearly 50 years, Hawaii has been under a Federal quarantine
which prohibits the movement of most Hawaii grown fresh fruits
and vegetables to U.S. mainland markets. Of the pests of
quarantine importance, fruit flies are by far the greatest
concern to U.S. agriculture.
The quarantine restriction on the movement of Hawaii grown fresh
fruit and vegetables, primarily because of fruit fly infestation,
has been described as the single most important constraint on the
growth of diversified agriculture in Hawaii.
Few post-harvest commodity treatment protocols have been approved
by USDA since the cancellation of ethylene dibromide fumigant in
1984.
As a result, exotic fruits now coming into significant commercial
production in Hawaii, and most abundantly on the Big Island, can
not be exported to the U.S. mainland.
The production of tropical fruit will remain a backyard and
cottage industry in Hawaii if export markets remain closed to
Hawaii.
The opening of export markets, will give Hawaii growers an
opportunity to expand into new lands and to take advantage of
business opportunities in a growing U.S. market for high quality
fruit products.
Will consumers accept tropical fruit grown in Hawaii which has
been treated with irradiation to meeting quarantine requirements:
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Chairman James Arakaki
April 23, 1997
Page 2
The answer is yes. Over the past two years, Hawaii growers have
made 34 shipments of tropical fruit to Chicago for quarantine
treatment at the Isomedix gamma irradiation facility in Morton
Grove, Illinois. The individual shipments have consisted of LD3
containers, one to three containers per shipment, transporting a
variety of products, including, papaya, rambutan, star fruit,
atemoya, lychee, mango, avocado, orange and others. The
shipments have been made under USDA authorization for growers in
Hawaii to evaluate the feasibility of irradiation as a quarantine
treatment for Hawaii grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ionizing
irradiation treatment of fresh fruits and vegetables for delayed
maturation and insect disinfestation in 1986. Prior to the rule
approval, FDA approved irradiation treatment of wheat and pork
and more recently chicken, for insect, parasite, and microbial
pathogen disinfestation. Irradiation treatment of food for
purposes defined under the authorizing rules have been determined
to be safe by FDA. This determination by FDA has been endorsed
by numerous reputable regulatory, scientific and professional
organization in the U.S. and worldwide.
Hawaii fruits treated in Chicago ha~~been marketed in Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, New York, Florida, Texas, California and
Washington with excellent consumer acceptance.
The test shipments have provided growers and the State Department
of Agriculture with practical experience moving fruit to a
commercial irradiator for quarantine treatment and information on
retailer and consumer acceptance of irradiated fresh produce.
The treatment of fruit in Hawaii prior to shipment is by far the
preferred option for Hawaii growers because of the high costs of
transportation moving fruit to mainland markets with treatment at
destination.
The demand for high quality exotic fruit from Hawaii exceeds the
supply. The experience to date clearly demonstrates that
retailers and consumers, alike, are not adverse to food
irradiation as repeatedly suggested by special interest groups,
instead recognize the safety of food irradiation and the
wholesomeness of food treated by irradiation.
The challenge for Hawaii is production and the resolve to secure
a position in a market now opened to its growers.
The development of a comprehensive post harvest treatment
facility in Hawaii will greatly benefit agriculture and the
Y ~ JM
Chairman James Arakaki
April 23, 1997
Page 3
economy of Hawaii and is supported and endorsed by the Department
and State administration.
I urge your positive recommendation of the measures before you
and look forward to working with you to promote agriculture and
new economic opportunity in Hawaii.
Sincerely,
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L E WONG, Ptf D.
Plant Industry Administrator
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