Appropriates $200,000 to develop the Big Island papaya industry.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that papayas grown on the Big Island represent ninety per cent of all papayas grown in Hawaii. Papayas grown in Puna are known to be world-class. The legislature further finds that the papaya industry in Hawaii has been boosted by the development of a new variety of papaya, known as the transgenic papaya. However, this species has proved not to be profitable because of market resistance to genetically engineered products.

Therefore, the legislature further finds that the transgenic papaya needs to be effectively mass marketed around the world to reap economic development for the Big Island. More than seventy per cent of Big Island papaya is shipped out of State.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the development of new markets and the expansion of existing markets for papaya sales in foreign countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, and the Middle East.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for the papaya industry on the island of Hawaii to develop new markets and to expand existing markets in foreign countries.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.