STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2419

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2693

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2693 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL POLICY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the policies and priority guidelines for agriculture set forth in chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to incorporate the promotion of and an increase in the consumption of Hawaii-grown foods and products as a state policy goal.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Office of Planning; The Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Hawaii Farmers Union; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that making a strong and clear policy statement to support locally grown products will increase access to fresh agricultural commodities while supporting the local agricultural industry and moving Hawaii to greater food sustainability.

     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. 2693 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair