HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.036 2012-2014 .'i ^aA� t...
Russell Ruderman " Island Naturals Markets
President Hilo, Kona, Mauka, &Pahoa
Otk
4,2
5/14/2013
Aloha Hawaii Councilmembers,
I urge to pass Bill 79, restricting new GMO crops on the Big Island.
Being the only county without widespread GMO test crops, our island is in a unique position to protect our
agriculture industry and environment from the many dangers of GMO crops. I will only discuss the economic
and political impacts of GMOs at this time.
For every GMO crop introduced, the value of that entire crop drops. Hawaiian papaya, for example, has never
recovered to the pricing we enjoyed before the unpredicted and uncontrollable contamination from GMO
papaya. Now our Hawaiian papaya crop is on the boycott list for millions of consumers worldwide. Japan took
10 years to accept Hawaiian papaya, and still requires labeling. In the first year of acceptance of Hawaiian
papaya, Japan consumed about 4,000 pounds of GMO papaya, and over 1 million pounds of non-GMO papaya,
showing that consumer rejection of GMOs is still the rule, even after expensive marketing campaigns.
This bill is well crafted, including the exemption for GMO papaya already established here. Papaya farmers
deserve our support, but we must protect all other farmers and consumers from the negative effects GMO crops
will have on other agriculture crops.
This year in the state legislature, we saw clearly that each person who blocked the several GMO bills was paid
by Monsanto to thwart the public will. In the past, Monsanto money assured legislators a safe harbor on this
issue. With public concern over GMOs growing exponentially, the situation is now reversed. Those who block
citizens' overwhelming desire for some protection from GMOs will now find their actions a serious and widely
publicized liability.
I urge you to help the Big Island protect our farmers, consumers, and environment by passing Bill 79.
Sincerely,
Russell Ruderman n
Owner Island Naturals Markets Cc
Hawai`i State Senator District 2 e
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Comm. No. o2.- l• •
Ref. To: Jr
Ref. Date V
1221 Kilauea Ave#170 808-443-1703
Hilo, HI 96720 russell @islandnaturals.com