Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 546 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for pineapple research.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau. Testimony in support of the intent of the measure was submitted by the Board of Agriculture and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Your Committee finds that Hawaiian pineapple, which is the State's leading agricultural commodity and one of the State's largest crops, faces intense international competition from third-world producers who have less overhead cost and few restrictions on pest control management. The future of Hawaii pineapple is in research and development to ensure competitiveness and cost efficiency. To preserve the industry's contribution to Hawaii's general fund revenue, labor, ancillary business support, rural lifestyle, preservation of green belts, and stewardship of land, the state must invest in its future.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 546 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.