HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 071 Draft 02 1996-1998
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COUNTY OF HAWAII
STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 71 97
Draft 2
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A
PRIVATE POST HARVEST TREATMENT FACILITY IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII
WHEREAS, the island of Hawaii produces over 60 percent of the state's diversified crops; and
WHEREAS, through the perseverance and commitment of agriculturists and its support network,
the island of Hawaii is seeing the development of new, commercially-viable diversified crops
such as lychee, rambutan, longan, papaya, mango, abiu, tangelo, star fruit, atemoya, cherimoya
and durian; and
WHEREAS, commercial viability depends upon numerous factors, including labor, marketing,
land and development costs, transportation, weather, processing techniques, and export markets;
and
WHEREAS, the continued growth of Hawaii's diversified agricultural industry, particularly
tropical fruits, relies upon the ability of the industry to export to the US mainland where strict
federal quarantine regulations bar the import of fresh produce grown in fruit fly-infested regions
like Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, despite years of research and the application of post-harvest treatment alternatives
like cold storage and hot-water dip treatments, a reliable solution has not met the range of
agricultural commodity demands for marketability; and
WHEREAS, the option of treating certain fruits with low dose gamma rays has been explored
over the years and recent test-protocol shipments of Hawaii-grown fruits treated in a mainland
irradiation facility, marketed and sold to consumers have met with enthusiastic acceptance; and
WHEREAS, the Animal Plan Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has granted approval of
irradiation treatment in Hawaii for papaya, star fruit and lychee and permits are pending for
durian, rambutan, longan, star apple, atemoya and mango; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Research and Development has compiled a list of local crops
needing post harvest treatment and further identifying other potential crops and uses that could
benefit from the post harvest treatment facility (see EXHIBIT A); and
WHEREAS, since 1958 to 1995, the use of food irradiation has been approved by 40 countries,
including the United States, France, Japan and Canada; and
WHEREAS, irradiation has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US
Department of Agriculture for controlling insects in wheat and flour (1963), inhibiting sprouting
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in potatoes (1964), controlling contamination in dried spices and dehydrated vegetable seasonings
(1983), destroying trichina in pork (1985), delaying ripening of fruit and disinfesting fruits and
vegetables of insects (1986) and controlling foodborne pathogens in poultry (1992); and
WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization and other health and scientific research
entities, the use of irradiation treatment on foods (1) does not alter food in any way that could
harm people, (2) does not cause food to become radioactive under approved and regulated
treatment conditions, (3) does not cause long-term health effects or health risks; and (4) does not
adversely affect the nutritional value of food any more than other food processing and
preservation methods (canning, freezing, etc); and
WHEREAS, the construction and operation of food irradiation facilities and the transport of
radioactive material must meet stringent federal and state regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAW All that it supports the responsible development and construction of a private post harvest
treatment facility in the County of Hawaii and recognizes the importance of such a treatment
facility in assisting the exportation of various agricultural commodities in the global marketplace.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable
Benjamin J. Cayetano, Governor; the Honorable Stephen K. Yamashiro, Mayor; U.S. Senators
Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka; U.S. Representative Patsy Mink; U.S. Representative
Neil Abercrombie; State Senators and Representatives of the Big Island; Director of Research and
Development Diane Quitiquit; Hawaii Island Economic Development Board; and the Hawaii
Agricultural Promotional Association, State Department of Agriculture Chairman James
Nakatani, University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this
7th
day of
May
, 1997.
UNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
HUo, Hawaii
ROLL CALL VOTE
.&.. Reference C-2-12. 06/P-~C-71
COUNTY CLERK . ciIAIRMAN' & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. '.71 'Q'1 (DRAFT 2)
AYES NOES ADS EX
ARAKAKI X
CHUNG X
LEITHEAD-TODD X
RAY X
REYNOLDS X
SANTANGELO X
SMITH X
TYLER X
YAGONG X
7 2 0 0
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the
vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on Mav 7. 1997
ATTEST:
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Estimated Production of Crops grown on the Big Island
currently Needing Post Harvest Treatment
1997 1998
(lbs) (lbs)
1. Starfruit 502,000 503,000
2. Rambutan 106,000 150,000
3. Lychee 55,500 114,000
4. Atemoya 3,000 5,000
5. Longan 2,000 7,000
6. Abiu 3,000 3,000
7. Durian 2,000 4,000
8. Papaya 4.8 million lbs.*
9. Ginger 3.2 million lbs.**
Note: Production estimates for tropical fruits was provided
by the Tropical Fruit Cooperative.
*Based on an assumption that the 1996 recorded sales from
independent papaya farmers of 4.8 million stays the same.
**Based on an estimate of one third of yearly production
will be irradiated to inhibit sprouting. The 1997
production is estimated at an expected acreage of 245 at a
yield of 40,000 lbs/acre.
Estimated Production of Crops grown on Kauai Currently
Needing Post Harvest Treatment
1997
(lbs)
1998
(lbs)
1. Starfruit
2. Rambutan
3. Lychee
4. Atemoya
5. Mango
Total
10,000
20,000
80,000
80,000
10.000
200,000
15,000
40,000
80,000
100,000
10.000
245,000
Note: Production estimates for tropical fruits was provided
by the Tropical Fruit Cooperative.
EXHIBIT A
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List of Potential Big Island Crops that could benefit from
the proposed post harvest treatment facility (Irradiation)
Taro - 790,000 lbs. (1995 fresh marketings)
Sweet potato - approx. 750,000 lbs. (1994 yield)
Citrus - no data available
cut Flowers*
Ginger - 124,000 dozens
Heliconia - 23,000 dozens
Bird of Paradise - 108,000 dozens
Ti leaves (foliage) - 7.1 million dozens
*ginger and heliconia were based on 1995 sales and bird of
paradise and ti leaves were on 1994 sales.
List of other potential uses of the proposed post harvest
treatment facility (Irradiation)
Maui onions - 2 million lbs (1994 sales)
Potted foliage
Medical supplies
Nursery potting media
Research
Preservation of permanently valuable government records,
research and reference materials.
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