HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.645 2012-2014 P/P5a,tra
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Murashige, Laura COUNTY CAran
From: gpn @greenpointnursery.com
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 11:25 AM 2013 JUN 28 AM II: 30
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: REGARDING bill 79
Attachments: Attachment information..txt; HFNA-CountyCouncil-Bill 79oppose 7-2-13.pdf
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Attachment HFNA-CountyCounc
information..txt(6... it-Bill 79oppo...
Aloha Please see attached testimony.
Green Point Nurseries, Inc.
Ph: 808-959-3535
gpn @greenpointnursery.com
Comm. No. 11 ''��(AC
Ref. To: r'
Ref. Date U 2 2013
1
Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association
Testimony for the 9th Session
Hawai'i County Council
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740
Tuesday,July 2nd,2013
9:00am
Regarding Bill 79—An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code, by Adding a
New Article Relating to Prohibition of Genetically Modified Organisms.
We Strongly Oppose Bill 79
My name is Eric S. Tanouye and I am the current President for the Hawaii Floriculture and
Nursery Association. HFNA is a statewide umbrella organization with approximately 300 members.
Our membership is made up with breeders, hybridizers, propagators, growers, shippers, wholesalers,
retailers, educators, and the allied industry, which supports our efforts in agriculture. In 2011 our
industry's sales were approximately 70 million in sales and of these sales approximately 60%are from
the Big Island, sales that help inject money into our local economy.
• HFNA supports science,technology, innovation and the freedom of choice.
• Floriculture is a non-edible agriculture,the argument of whether or not GMO crops are
healthy or not does not concern our industry but this bill will limit our choice on how to
improve our products.
• We follow the mandated rules that govern the use of pesticides and chemicals as
administered by USDA on Federal level as well as those on a State level.
• Our Floriculture Industry is also not concerned with the business practices of Monsanto
and are more concerned with developing our own products for the future.
We believe it is important to look to the future of our agriculture industry and not handicap
ourselves with laws that seek to close the door on technology. It is important that we keep finding
solutions to pest and diseases that currently attack our plants and crops. With disease and pest resistant
plants we would be able to use less herbicides and pesticides, which would lower costs for farmers and
also have a greater yield of product, allowing our sector in agriculture to improve efficiencies.
That is why we would like to request the council to Oppose Bill 79. If you have any questions
at this time, I would be happy to discuss them and can be reached by phone at 808-959-3535 ext 22, cell
960-1433 and email eric( greenpointnurserv.corn.
Supp ting gricultilre and Hawaii,
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S. anouye
President
Hawaii Floric lture and Nursery Association
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