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Murashige, Laura 1?-eL7). 217- '
From: Loren Mochida [Imochida @whshipman.com] Utz 01
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 3:06 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Hawaii County Council
Attachments: HI COUNTY COUNCIL 2012 GE LABELING.doc; ATT00016.htm
Testimony for COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT on
1/31/2012 2:30:00 P.M. Res. 217-12
Council Chambers
Testifier position: Strongly Oppose
Testifier will be present: Yes
Submitted by: Loren Mochida ;,, n
Organization: W.H. Shipman, Limited
Address:
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Phone: c
E-mail: Imochida a(�whshipman.com
Submitted on: 1/27/2012
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Comments:
Please submit attached testimony to Committee on on Environmental
Management hearing on Tuesday, January 31 , 2012 at 2:30 P.M. in Council
Chambers.
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W. H . Shipman
Limited
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
URGES THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO
APPROVE SENATE BILL 713, RELATING TO THE
LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED WHOLE
FOOD CROPS
JANUARY 31, 2012
CHAIRPERSON BRITTANY SMART and Members of the Committee:
STRONGLY OPPOSE Resolution 217-12.
My name is Loren Mochida, Director of Agricultural Operations at W. H. Shipman,
Limited in Keaau on the Big Island. We are a local kamaaiana-family owned land
management company that is engaged in Agriculture and Commercial/Industrial
development and leasing. We currently lease lands to over 130 individually growers at
W.H. Shipman, Ltd.
W. H. Shipman, Ltd., and their growers are strongly opposed to a propose RESOLUTION
217-12, "Urges the legislature of the State of Hawaii.to:approve Senate Bill 713, relating
to the labeling of genetically engineered whole food crops". Labeling requirements, as
regulated by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), is intended to communicate
information that is relevant to health, safety, and nutrition. FDA states that there is no
significant difference between foods produced using biotechnology and their
conventional counterparts. They also state that labeling focuses on the final product, not
the process used to develop a food product.
16-523 Keaau-Pahoa Road Keaau,HI 96749
tel.:808.966.9325 • fax:808.966.8522
www.whshipman.com
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.1882
W.H. Shipman
Limited
The Hawaii Papaya Industry Association(HPIA) coordinated the deregulation of the
genetically engineered papaya"RAINBOW" in CONUS and Canada. Both countries do
not require labeling of this safe papaya as it was developed no differently then the
conventional breeding techniques. Without the biotechnology of the Rainbow papaya,
there would be no papaya industry in the state of Hawaii today.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and Food and Drug Administration(FDA) have already proven that the
biotechnology"Rainbow"papaya is safe for the environment and human consumption.
We have been eating this delicious transgenic papaya for over 12 years without any ill or
side effects.
I have worked in the papaya industry for over 20 years and this Resolution to support Bill
713 seems to be targeting the papaya industry here in Hawaii. Our papaya growers are
already struggling with high cost of production, processing, and transportation cost.
Labeling requirements that are not necessary only increases the burden for these hard
working growers.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to provide testimony on the proposed resolution
to approve SB 713 labeling genetically engineered whole food crops.
Page 1 of 1
Mahalo,
Loren Mochida
Director of Agricultural Operations
W.H. Shipman, Limited
16-523 Keaau-Pahoa Rd
Keaau, Hawaii 96749
808.966.9325 office
808.966.8522 fax
Imochida @whshipman.com
file://C:\Documents and Settings\lmurashige\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK... 1/30/2012