The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service has given its blessing to irradiation technology first used by Big Island company Hawaii Pride LLC to eliminate fruit flies in mainland-bound fruits. USDA approves irradiation
first used on Big IslandBy Lyn Danninger
ldanninger@starbulletin.comOn Monday, the USDA issued its final rule authorizing the use of irradiation to treat fruits and vegetables imported into the United States.
The technology created by San Diego-based SureBeam Corp. made its debut in Hawaii about two years ago when the world's first disinfestation facility was established in Keaau by Big Island businessmen John Clark and Eric Wienert in partnership with the company. Since Hawaii Pride was established, other facilities primarily geared to treat meat opened in Chicago, Sioux City, and Los Angeles. The SureBeam technology can be used in meat packing plants to eliminate such pathogens as E.Coli and Salmonella.
The first overseas facility to use the technology will open in Brazil early next year, Clark said. A facility in Vietnam is also under construction.
Clark said the USDA ruling means further acceptance of the technology in the U.S. marketplace, as well as worldwide. Clark said people from countries all over the world who are interested in the technology have toured his facility in the last couple of years to see the technology in action.
"They (SureBeam) are now talking with 11 countries about it," Clark said.
Acceptance by the USDA is key to further development of markets for products treated with the technology, he said.
"This just opens the door further," Clark said.
Right now the company primarily treats fruits such as papaya, rambutan, star fruit and longan and has agreements with a number of major supermarkets and retailers on the mainland, such as Safeway and Kroeger.
"We've talked to flower growers, we could add coffee or potted orchids," Clark said. "We know there are markets for this, we just need to work it into the mix. It's a huge opportunity if we step up and do it right."