Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 3034 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate the sum of $200,000 to assess the economic feasibility of establishing a permanent, world-class farmers’ market in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Board of Agriculture, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm Bureau, North Shore Farms, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Waialua Farmers Cooperative, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Meadow Gold Dairies, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and Hawaii Agricultural Research Center.

Your Committee finds that the measure would help establish a premier market place to showcase Hawaii’s diverse agricultural products. The proposed world-class farmers’ market would facilitate increased sales and promotion of local agriculture products, and serve as a new attraction for the visitor industry. The Department of Agriculture has produced a preliminary feasibility study on such a market and has had extensive meetings with the private sector and federal government officials to explore the idea. The measure would help build on this firm foundation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3034 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.