STAND. COM. REP. NO.  563-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2083

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2083 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist Hawaii's farmers by appropriating funds for the establishment of a state-managed agricultural processing facility, serving multiple users and including kitchen facilities and packaging assistance, for the production of value-added agricultural products.

     Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure. 

     Your Committee recognizes the need for a local processing facility that will assist farmers in developing and selling value-added products.  However, concerns were raised regarding the use of the facility for non-agricultural purposes.  It is the intent of your Committee that the agricultural processing facility shall only be used for the purposes expressly stated in this bill. 

     In addition, your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Finance to consider the area in the vicinity of the previous Del Monte operations in Kunia as a potential location for the agricultural processing facility.

     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 H.B. No. 2083 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair