HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.449 1996-1998
. F
April 23, 1997
Testimony to Hawaii County Council Comnsittee on Finance
Regazding the development of apost-harvest treatment facility (irradiation) in the
County of Hawaii.
Councilors, (Mayor), Chairman Chung,
My name is Marlene Houma and I am Assistant to the President of MacFarms of
Hawaii -who is traveling.
MacFarms owns and operates one of the world's largest macadamia businesses -
growing and processing macadamia on the South Kona coast of the Big Island, then
exporting and selling around $25 million of macadamias around the world.
This testimony is in support of the proposal to establish an irradiation facility on the
Big Island for postharvest treatment of tropical agricultural products.
MacFarms will not attempt to argue the "moral" and supposed safety issues of
irradiation. However, we do believe that there was an interestingly similar amount of
induced hysteria at the time that:
• Columbus wanted to sail azound the world , RE~ENEd
nom----------------- B
Steam trains started running ~~,3~~__°._""^~^^
County Council j~7. FG-
• Automobiles replaced horses
• Women doctors started practicing
All of these were to have led to the downfall of society at that time.
As a major producer and exporter of agricultural products, it is quite obvious to us that
the lifeblood of any agricultural industry is not production but marketing. The key
players in the macadamia industry (MacFarms, Mauna Loa and Hawaiian Host -
representing close to 90% of Hawaii's macadamia revenue) aze key because of their
marketing -not their production or processing facilities.
The extension of this is that if Hawaii wishes to maintain its rural culture and agrarian
lifestyle as well as its economic viability, then markets and the marketing of its
agricultural products are vitally important.
nlar Z r 2.4~f9
>rne xe.
Rec. Y`ot Prosented ~ c-
D... tAPR ~ A
' The mainland opposition to Hawaii's (supposedly) risky products will not go away -
nor will it be satisfied by any means other than irradiation treatment. Thus the
proposed irradiation facility is not a matter of choice - it is simple necessity if we are to
feed our population.
For those who would oppose this for various reasons, the question is "How else will
you survive and feed people?" Given the (statewide) decline of tourism, the reduction
of the military and the reduction of welfare benefits -along with the decline of sugar,
pineapple, etc., this is a difficult but very real issue.
The proposed irradiation facility is a logical and sensible way forward for an economy
that needs very badly to find other income sources.
If you aze from out of state, or can count on subsidized living from federal or other
sources, this may not matter. However, for most of those who aze not, and who care
about the future economic viability of this island, the ability to be able to sell its
agricultural products is critical.
We have heard that the use of such a facility could "taint" all island agricultural
products. As a major exporter (the second biggest on the island) we see this as
nonsense and discount it completely.
Thank you.