September 2006

 

Abercrombie defends Hawaii fruit growers

Dear Friends:

The enormous plantations that once dominated the Hawaii landscape have been giving way for years to smaller diversified agricultural enterprises. Most of these businesses are still struggling to establish themselves, but they hold great promise for the continued viability of our state’s agricultural economy. Just as importantly, they are giving new life to rural communities and renewing a way of life that is an important part of our island heritage.

Playing a central role in the changing face of Hawaii agriculture are tropical fruits. We are the only state in the nation which grows many of these specialty crops. Like any infant agricultural industry, Hawaii’s tropical fruit farmers are highly vulnerable to sudden shifts in the regulatory climate and natural threats. That’s why the industry was shocked recently when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a Proposed Rule that would allow the importation of pineapple, mango, longan, lychee, rambutan and mangosteen from Thailand into the United States. (To view the Proposed Rule, go to www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main and submit “APHIS-2006-0040” under “Keyword or ID”.)

Local growers are concerned that they will be at a competitive disadvantage with Thai products, which are indirectly subsidized by the Thai government and are of a lower quality than Hawaii’s tropical fruits. They also fear that plant pests and diseases from Thailand will not be monitored adequately by APHIS. If these threats enter the United States undetected, they could wipe out Hawaii’s tropical fruit industry.

Because of these concerns, I took the initiative to give Hawaii stakeholders an opportunity to make their case to high level decision makers in Washington, DC. I arranged and hosted a video teleconference that linked growers and labor representatives in Hilo and Honolulu with APHIS’s rule making officials in Washington. The affected parties in Hawaii voiced their concerns and questioned the individuals who are directly involved in the decision making process. The tropical fruit industry was well represented at this meeting and vigorously presented the growers’ case. As a group, we undoubtedly left an impression on the minds of the decision makers.

Hawaii’s tropical specialty fruit industry produced a record 1.5 million pounds of fresh fruit in 2005, a 41% increase from the previous year. This increase, combined with a record $2.7 million in sales, demonstrates the industry’s potential to become an important force in Hawaii’s economy. That is why I am committed to ensuring that our government gives this nascent industry a chance to grow and thrive. (For more statistics, go to www.nass.usda.gov/hi/fruit/tropfrt.)

The video teleconference was an important first step. I will continue to work closely with Hawaii’s tropical fruit growers, workers and businesses to modify the Proposed Rule. If necessary, I will introduce legislation to defend Hawaii’s still vulnerable tropical fruit industry. It is important to our economy, particularly in terms of its future possibilities, and it preserves an equally important link to our island past.

Aloha,

Neil Abercrombie

Member of Congress

 

 

Lychee

 

 

 

Rambutan

 

Longan

 

Mangosteen