STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2015

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2359
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2359 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR HAWAIIAN
     ORGANIC AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $80,000, for
fiscal year 2000-2001, to assist the Hawaii Organic Farmers
Association in educational, marketing, and federal accreditation
activities.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was submitted by the
Department of Agriculture, the College of Tropical Agriculture,
University of Hawaii at Manoa, a member of the Hawai`i County
Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Big Island
Farm Bureau, Hamakua Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Organic Farmers
Association, Sierra Club, Hawai`i Chapter, and thirty-six
individuals.

     Your Committee finds that, as the bill recognizes, there is
currently underway a process of national agreement on standards
for certified organic products.  Without these commonly agreed
upon national standards, there is no objective means of
identifying organic crops and assisting those farmers.  Your
Committee further finds that organic produce has become
increasingly popular with consumers, which presents opportunities
for qualified farmers to expand into this niche market in Hawaii.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2015
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     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2359 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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