| The HCIA partners with other agricultural organizations
such as the Hawaii
Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii
Papaya Industry Association, Hawaii
Science and Technology Council and others on policy
issues that support Hawaii's agricultural industry. These
issues include irrigation repair and maintenance infrastructure,
important agricultural lands, agricultural theft, research
and market development of conventional, organic and genetically
engineered crops such as papaya.
Like many farmers in Hawaii, we believe in stewardship
of our natural and human resources and sustainable
agriculture practices that ensure health and safety,
and economic sustainability for the communities we
live in and our companies. We believe that Hawaii's
consumers benefit from crops grown from a variety of
practices---organic, conventional and biotechnology.
A strong local farming industry will help stop the
influx of invasive species that are present in imported
produce and products. For example, the vitality of
Hawaii's organic crop industry will mean less reliance
on imported organic produce and thus less importation
of invasive species to Hawaii. A Department of Agriculture study of imported produce to the Kahului Airport showed that imported organic produce transported the most invasive species to Maui.
Farmer's have a right to select the farming methods
and tools that will ensure success in the market place.
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