REPORT TITLE:
Ag Parks; Farmer's Markets


DESCRIPTION:
Includes farmer's markets in agricultural parks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           371
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARKS.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that within government
 
 2 operations, in order to achieve productivity and efficiency,
 
 3 programs must be tailored for success.  Too often, government
 
 4 fails to recognize that there are components of a business that
 
 5 are missing; usually causing the failure of the business.
 
 6 Farmers most often do not possess the ability to market their
 
 7 crops thereby causing a heavy reliance on wholesalers.  However,
 
 8 if government provides farmers with a venue to sell crops
 
 9 directly to the public, it would not only enhance the likelihood
 
10 of success by farmers, but would also allow government to
 
11 facilitate production and efficiency in farming produce and
 
12 services.  The purpose of this Act is to allow small farms to
 
13 sell their produce at farmer's markets located in agricultural
 
14 parks.
 
15      SECTION 2.  Section 166-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
16 amended to read as follows:
 
17      "[[]§166-1[]]  Legislative findings.  The legislature finds
 
18 that [important]:
 
19      (1)  Important agricultural lands should be preserved for
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           371
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1           productive purposes; [the]
 
 2      (2)  The contribution of diversified agriculture and
 
 3           aquaculture to export and local markets should be
 
 4           expanded, thereby increasing [its] their importance in
 
 5           the State's economy; [and]
 
 6      (3)  The continued use of the State's agricultural land
 
 7           resources should be ensured by providing lands to new
 
 8           farmers, displaced farmers, and other qualified
 
 9           farmers[.]; and
 
10      (4)  Agricultural markets in the State should be created to
 
11           provide small farms a marketplace for their produce.
 
12 In order to meet these goals, the objectives of the State shall
 
13 include the provision of:  lands of appropriate size and
 
14 productive potential, with an adequate supply of water[,] to
 
15 ensure economically viable farm operations; lands at reasonable
 
16 cost with long term tenure and security from urbanization
 
17 pressure; [and] lands with common facilities and activities to
 
18 encourage farm production and distribution economies[.]; and
 
19 lands at strategic and convenient locations to serve as
 
20 marketplaces for small farms."
 
21      SECTION 3.  Section 166-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
22 amended by amending the definition of "agricultural park" to read
 
23 as follows:
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           371
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      ""Agricultural park" means any agricultural or aquacultural
 
 2 complex so designated by the board, for which state land or state
 
 3 funds are used, in order to meet the goals and objectives stated
 
 4 in section 166-1.  Agricultural buildings, farm residences,
 
 5 farmer's markets, and employee dwellings necessary to the
 
 6 production and distribution of agricultural and aquacultural
 
 7 commodities may be considered part of the agricultural park."
 
 8      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
 9 New statutory material is underscored.
 
10      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
11 
 
12                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________