| Hawaii's coffee industry unites against GM (13/3/2004) | |
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In another sign of burgeoning resistance in North America, Hawaii's coffee growers have united in a call to stop GM coffee being introduced into the state. Hawaii is often cited as pro-GM state but the letter and Resolution below come from all of Hawaii's coffee growers who are opposing not only the commercial growing of GM coffee in the state but also any GM coffee field or greenhouse tests. The growers are calling on the Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaii to do their job and protect the Hawaii coffee industry. Thanks for this news to Eloise Engman at [email protected] Sandra Lee Kunimoto Dear Sandra: Enclosed is a copy of the resolution that was agreed upon at the Hawai`i Coffee Association meeting on November 12, 2003 in Kona. This document has also been approved by the boards of directors of each organization listed. Please note that the entire Hawai`i coffee industry is behind this resolution, including those on Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Oahu. Please respond to us within 30 days informing us as to how the State of Hawai`i will protect the coffee industry. We would like to continue to work with the Department of Agriculture on a solution that is acceptable to the Hawai`i state coffee industry. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Be it resolved: The state of Hawaii needs to provide farmer protection from Genetically Engineered coffee including; 1. no GE coffee field or greenhouse tests and no commercially grown GE coffee in the state of Hawaii. 2. holding the biotech industry liable for economic, environmental or health problems, as a result of the introduction of GE coffee, that may occur. Kona Coffee Council |
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