HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.761 2012-2014 617-
In Opposition to Bill 79
COUNTY CLERK
Jennifer Perry COUNTY 17 LJ WAN
July 2, 2013 qq,,
PLEASE VOTE NO on BILL No.79, an ordinance JUL u-riaprer 14 of the Hawaii County Code
1983 (2005 edition, as amended), by adding a new article relating to prohibition of genetically
modified organisms.
My husband and I moved to the Big Island in 1974 to start a farm. We found some former
sugar cane land in Kapoho, hand cleared the cane, and began planting vegetables, banana,
papaya and like many homesteaders, as many varieties of tropical fruits that we felt would
grow well in our climate. As farming became profitable for us, we purchased or leased more
acreage abutting or near our property. Today our main crops are Rainbow and Sun-up
Papaya, tropical fruits (longan, lychee, rambutan), citrus (oranges, tangelo, tangerine, lemon),
plus a little of apple banana, avocado, and orchids.
Over the almost 40 years we have had good years, great years, and bad years. We all know
that farming is a gamble economically. You work outside with the soil, lava rocks, the sun,
the rain, lightning, hurricane wind forces, volcanic plumes, and all kinds of pests including
insects and diseases that can kill crops, and lately the invasive and overwhelming tide of
albizzias, strawberry guava, Koster's curse, feral pigs, coqui, fire ants, and the varoa mite.
We have been members in many agriculture organizations including the Hilo-Puna Young
Farmers, Farm Bureau, HPIA, HBIA, Tropical Fruit Growers, orchid growers associations,
and farmer's market committees. When PRV came into our fields, the University of Hawaii
and Cornell University offered to do all they could to help our papaya industry. We offered
our farm for their field trials.
Fanning provides employment opportunities, especially for young people. Since 1995, I have
submitted to the IRS and Social Security 173 W-2 forms. Those are all legal wages. It may
not make my employees rich, but they all gain an experience in work skills, how to get along
with people, testing their physical limits, learning how to maintain a daily schedule, and some
of them have gone into farming themselves. We have all eaten, sold and given away so much
papaya that you cannot believe, and I never once heard of anyone getting sick from eating
papaya. And please remember, our small farm is only one of hundreds on the Big Island.
Almost all of us who farm, have raised children on our farms, taught them how to work, and
sent them to college. Our three daughters are well educated with bachelor, master, and
doctorate degrees. Agriculture supports higher education.
This bill is anti-agriculture in words and in intent. This bill would harm our livelihood. I
plead with you to vote NO, do not amend,just vote NO to Bill 79.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Jennifer Perry
PO Box 537 tt
Pahoa, HI 96778 comm. I�ls. ��1•-1 1�
Riff. To: 1 /P,S (V17
- 1 - Ref. Dote JUL 0 2 2013