European Union votes to ban farm pesticides With a lopsided vote of 577 to 61, the European parliament passed legislation that will restrict the use of pesticides in agriculture and ban 22 chemicals completely. The British government is protesting the new law, but the heavy majority vote makes it likely that all 27 EU member […]
2009 Food Summary
Much of Maui County’s food is flown in or shipped in. Growing our own food would provide us with fresher and possibly less expensive produce. Home grown food is a security issue. And locally grown food makes Maui more sustainable. Fruit from backyards of Maui picked for the Food Bank Suzanne Freitas and James Mylenek have […]
Farmland Summary 2009
Maui residents share a compelling need for more diversified agriculture. Maui has an excellent climate which can meet that need. The ongoing loss of agricultural land to speculation and sprawl is an unhealthy economic and social trend. New legislation plus a commitment by county officials to enforce existing laws offers hope that enough farmland will […]
Maui Pine to shut down by end of year
MAUI NEWS Wednesday, November 4, 2009 By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer KAHULUI – Maui Pineapple Co. will shut down by the end of this year, Maui Land & Pineapple Co. announced Tuesday. Several operations at Kapalua Resort will be transferred to other operators, including Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, which will manage the 206-unit Kapalua Villas. […]
Judge Rejects Approval of Biotech Sugar Beets
New York Times September 23, 2009 By ANDREW POLLACK A federal judge has ruled that the government failed to adequately assess the environmental impacts of genetically engineered sugar beets before approving the crop for cultivation in the United States. The decision could lead to a ban on the planting of the beets, which have been […]
Council takes up a ban on GMO taro
The Maui News June 29, 2009 By CHRIS HAMILTON, Staff Writer WAILUKU – Maui County may become the second county in the state to ban the genetic engineering of taro, the Polynesian staple that is considered sacred by many Native Hawaiians. County Council Member Bill Medeiros, who is Native Hawaiian and holds the rural Hana […]