HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.117 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Jon Miyata (jmiyata @rhomac.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 10:49 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Opposition to Bills 109 & 113
Attachments: Opposition to Bills 109 & 113 (090313).pdf
See testimony attached. ° C)
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Jon Y. Miyata <--i
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V.P. & Chief Accounting Officer
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Royal Hawaiian Orchards, L.P.
688 Kinoole Street, Suite 121 N
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Email: jmiyata @rhomac.com
Ph. (808) 747-8471
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Comm. No. 3 g•S• "7
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Ref. To: "4"
Ref. Date SEP 04 2013
9/3/2013
Royal
Hawaiian
J. niaMt,
688 Kinoole Street, Suite 121,Hilo,Hawaii 96720
September 3, 2013
Re: Opposition to Bills 109 and 113
Committee Chair Ford, Committee Vice Chair Wille and members of the Hawai'i County
Council:
We are one of the largest macadamia nut growers in world and presently farm over 5,000 acres
of macadamia nut orchards on Hawai'i Island. And although we don't use GMO, we are writing
in opposition of Bills 109 and 113.
The bills unfairly discriminate against farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic
engineering technology to grow safe and healthy food and other agricultural products. They
target farmers and ranchers who use genetic engineering technology based on misinformation.
Independent scientific organizations worldwide have unanimously stated that genetic
engineering and genetically modified foods are safe.
Hawai'i's farmers and ranchers may need virus resistant GMO crops to protect Hawaii from the
next papaya virus strain,banana bunchy top virus,tomato spotted wilt and other vegetable
viruses. GMO research may also help Hawai'i control and or eliminate pests, which is good for
our agricultural industry.
If these bills pass, they will prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from efficiently
growing cost effective feed and produce locally, requiring them to import the exact same feed
and produce from the mainland or another country, leading to higher pricing and potential
financial hardship to our farmers and ranchers.
What the bills will definitely do is make it more difficult for Hawai'i County farmers and
ranchers to compete and remain viable and will increase food prices, making it more costly for
us to live here. Accordingly,we hope the Hawai'i County Council will vote NO on Bills 109
and 113.
Very truly yours,
on . Miyata
Vice President
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