Hawaiian macadamia producers want COOL
Hawaiian macadamia producers want COOL
WASHINGTON While some fruit and vegetable growers are trying to find a way out of the mandatory country-of-origin labeling program, Hawaiian macadamia nut growers say they want in.
"Hawaii produces the highest-quality macadamia nuts in the world, and we're known worldwide as the pioneer in developing a national and international market for macadamias," said Rep. Ed Case (D-HI).
But some producers are unfairly taking advantage of this success, said Rep. Case, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and ranking member on the Livestock & Horticulture Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over specialty crops.
His legislation would add flavored and roasted macadamia nuts in cans and other packaging to the country-of-origin labeling law. The goal, said the congressman, is to prevent some nut producers from implying that their products are 100 percent grown in Hawaii, when, in fact, they may contain a mixture of Hawaiian nuts and lower-quality nuts.
Some producers outside Hawaii use lower-quality nuts in their products but still mention a tie to Hawaii in their packaging. This practice hurts the reputation of the Hawaiian macadamia nut industry by decreasing demand and prices for Hawaiian nuts and damages the reputation of the Hawaiian macadamia nut industry, he said.
Australia, the United States, South Africa and Guatemala are the top producers of macadamia nuts worldwide. An increasing number of countries are getting into the market because producers, who see the crop as lucrative, can diversify their agricultural income when other crop prices fall.
The legislation, HR 3535, would not include macadamia nuts used for candy or as ingredients for other foods not covered by COOL. The 2002 farm bill required origin labeling for peanuts, fish, beef, lamb, pork, and fruits and vegetables.
The law has been implemented only for fish and shellfish.
"Hawaii produces the highest-quality macadamia nuts in the world, and we're known worldwide as the pioneer in developing a national and international market for macadamias," said Rep. Ed Case (D-HI).
But some producers are unfairly taking advantage of this success, said Rep. Case, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and ranking member on the Livestock & Horticulture Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over specialty crops.
His legislation would add flavored and roasted macadamia nuts in cans and other packaging to the country-of-origin labeling law. The goal, said the congressman, is to prevent some nut producers from implying that their products are 100 percent grown in Hawaii, when, in fact, they may contain a mixture of Hawaiian nuts and lower-quality nuts.
Some producers outside Hawaii use lower-quality nuts in their products but still mention a tie to Hawaii in their packaging. This practice hurts the reputation of the Hawaiian macadamia nut industry by decreasing demand and prices for Hawaiian nuts and damages the reputation of the Hawaiian macadamia nut industry, he said.
Australia, the United States, South Africa and Guatemala are the top producers of macadamia nuts worldwide. An increasing number of countries are getting into the market because producers, who see the crop as lucrative, can diversify their agricultural income when other crop prices fall.
The legislation, HR 3535, would not include macadamia nuts used for candy or as ingredients for other foods not covered by COOL. The 2002 farm bill required origin labeling for peanuts, fish, beef, lamb, pork, and fruits and vegetables.
The law has been implemented only for fish and shellfish.
