HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.445 1996-1998
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TESTIM. i' IN SUPPORT OF IRRADIATION . _%ILITY
John C. Cross
Mauna Kea Agribusiness Co., Ina RECEIVED
To: Hawait County Council _ -t-f}~_l _ _
25 Aupuni St. Date^ Covnty Council ' ~
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
My name is John C. Cross, I am the Director of Diversified Crop Development for Mauna Kea
Agribusiness Co., a subsidiary of C. Brewer & Company.
Until 1994 MKAC used to cultivate approximately 18,000 acres of sugazcane. Upon shutdown
of our sugarcane operations12,500 acres of fee simple owned land became idle. Since then we
have been actively offering our lands to displaced employees and other individuals for
diversified crop uses. Our company offers land by way of short term crop Licenses, Long term
leases, Leases with purchase option, and Fee simple land ownership. The response to our lands
has been phenominal. At present we have over 200 farmers on our former cane lands occupying
close to 9,000 acres.
It is well known that our climate and soil are great for root crops such as ginger, taro and sweet
potato. However one of the most sucessful new crop uses developing on the coast has been
tropical fruits. At present we have over 300 acres in Banana, 870 acres in Papaya with another
400 soon to be planted, and finally 120 acres in lease to "exotic tropicals" such as Rambutan,
Lychee and Mangosteen. It is in this last category of exotics where I see a growing interest and
demand for land. Including lands under other ownership I estimate some 250 acres aze now or
soon will be planted to these fruit tree crops...but the the potential is much, much greater. There
is a mazket, a demanding export market at that, for these crops. However, due to fruitfly and
other nest quazantines. we must treat to "disinfest" all exported fruits and crops.
As a representative of my company, as a member of the Hilo coast farming community, and as
someone who works daily and personally in the diversification of former sugarcane lands, I
wholeheartedly support the construction of an irradiation facility for our tropical crops. The
potential use of this facility is not limited to the benefit of tropical fruit growers but has the
potential to benefit other crops such as ginger and taro.
We need to support and develop our Big Island agriculture industry. Industry being the
operative word. Subsistence farming within the state is not enough to support an agricultural
industry. We need outside dollars coming into the state, outside dollazs building and growing
our economy. Outside dollars only come with export of products. Hawaii farmers nuture and
harvest the best quality tropical agricultural products in the World...this is proven and without
doubt. The irradiation facility will maintain and even enhance that quality. Other treatment
methods such as cold storage and heat treatments have shown to blemish and damage the crop
quality.
There is no need to question the health and safety aspects of an irradiation facility. Please
support Resolution 62 and please support the establishment of an irradiation facility in the
County of Hawaii with whatever means possible. ~ 21 ~ ~ ~S-
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