HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0225.080 2008-2010
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Murashige, Laura P/Coin
From: Bruce Corker [corkclan@msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 1:17 PM 20 F-, 8 21
To: councitestmony@co.hawaii.hi.us zQQ9 flPR
Subject: Testimony In Support of Resolution No. 81-09 CC'-+ i_ rl.,ttj, dl
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Dear Hawaii County Council Members:
On behalf of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association (KCFA), I submit this testimony in SUPPORT of Resolution No. 81-
09.
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association is a non-profit membership organization of 238 members whose purpose is the
support and protection of the economic interests of Kona coffee growers and the almost 200-year heritage of Kona
coffee.
At its meeting on February 18, 2009, the KCFA Board of Directors adopted a resolution in opposition to HB1226. Our
opposition to HB1226 and our support of Resolution No. 81-09 is based, in part, on the following:
1. HB1226 will block or impede efforts to protect Kona Coffee against GMO contamination from GMO coffee
introduced (legally or illegally) from other Hawaii counties.
2. If GMO contamination of Kona Coffee occurs, we risk severe,economic damage from the loss of markets in
Japan and Europe and the loss of "specialty coffee" status.
3. HB1226 (with its prohibition on "discrimination" against GMO) would hamper or preclude the Hawaii Department
of Agriculture from adopting effective regulations to prevent introduction of GMO coffee into Hawaii County in
violation of Hawaii County law as adopted last year in Bill No. 361. Even without limitations of the type written into
HB1226, the HDOA already finds it difficult to prevent the introduction of unwanted plants and pests-for example,
varroa mites, coqui frogs, and unfumigated foreign green coffee beans.
4. HB1226 seeks to undermine Hawaii's strong tradition of "local control" in order to advance the economic
interests of Mainland chemical and bio-engineering companies at the expense of Hawaii farmers.
We urge the Hawaii County Council to unanimously adopt Resolution No. 81-09.
Bruce Corker, President
Kona Coffee Farmers Association
Comm. No.
Ref. To:
Ref. Date -
4/20/2009