Report Title:

Big Island Papaya

Appropriates funds to develop the Big Island papaya industry. (HB1253 HD1)

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 papayas, known as the Rainbow papaya. However, this variety has proved not to be profitable partly because of foreign governmental procedures to approve genetically engineered products.

Therefore, the legislature further finds that the Rainbow papaya needs to be deregulated in foreign countries and effectively 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 expansion of existing markets for papaya sales on the U.S. mainland and in foreign countries, such as Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, China, and the Middle East.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $35,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 to be matched dollar-for-dollar by industry, for the papaya industry on the island of Hawaii to develop new markets and to expand existing markets on the U.S. mainland and in foreign countries.

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

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.