Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2133 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish the Hawaii farmers' market nutrition program and to require the department of health to submit to the 2003 and 2004 regular sessions program progress reports.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Health, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Big Island Farm Bureau, Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, ALU LIKE, Inc., and Full Plate, Inc.

Your Committees find that the consumption of fresh produce in the amounts recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture is vital to ensuring good health. Unfortunately, low income individuals, particularly women, children, and infants, are likely to not consume the recommended servings of fresh fruits and vegetables due to lack of awareness.

This measure appropriates state matching funds to implement a Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in Hawaii under the guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Your Committees find the benefits of this measure to be two-fold. First, it assists the dissemination of important nutritional information and education to low-income individuals. Second, it promotes Hawaii's agriculture industry. To further promote good health and Hawaii agriculture, your Committees are interested in promoting the consumption of Hawaii macadamia nuts for nutritional and health benefits. Thus, your Committees have requested the Department of Health to determine whether promoting the consumption of Hawaii macadamia nuts within the education program will be consistent with United States Department of Agriculture guidelines.

Your Committees have amended this measure by leaving the amount of the appropriation blank for it to be determined by your Committee on Ways and Means and by making technical nonsubstantive changes for clarity.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2133, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2133, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.