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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3023 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, and marketing OF THE ULU BREADFRUIT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Ulu, as it is named in Hawaiian, was one of the few subsistence plants the Polynesians brought with them when they sailed to the Hawaiian islands. Ulu's mythical origins, its fame in history, and its immense usefulness to islanders have made the tree an immortal symbol of Hawaii nei. Breadfruit reached the Hawaiian islands near the year 750, and over the centuries made significant contributions to the Hawaiians' survival and lifestyle.
Ulu breadfruit has potential to become a major crop in Hawaii. Currently, research is underway into the processes that will assure a thorough analysis and testing of the breadfruit flour product to validate breadfruit production methods and techniques, harvest, and drying; food science processing and refinement; manufacturing, product packaging, and export; market tracking and food distribution networking; employment; and ancillary economic impact and infrastructure installation and operations. Sales strategies include sending samples to FoodSource GHC Robinson for selective product testing among its clientele that includes Sub Way, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's.
The ulu breadfruit is a gluten free product that, within the context of the projected demand for gluten free products at a conservative $6,600,000,000 for the United States market by 2017, could potentially be an agricultural boom crop for Hawaii. For example, gluten free noodles using breadfruit flour is a huge market of which university food scientist are keenly aware. There is the potential for a regional system whereby the United States Pacific territories become sub regional hubs and the outer spokes to Hawaii which will be the main pacific hub for specialized refinement, processing, packaging and exporter to the mainland market. The ulu breadfruit is also a means to achieve food sustainability since the plant is a food staple like taro.
It important that the ulu breadfruit that comes out of Hawaii has a cultural sense of balance in terms of the sacredness, as ulu has a story of life that is the basis of many Pacific island stories and belief systems.
The agency primarily responsible for research, development, and marketing of the ulu breadfruit is the agribusiness development corporation, which is authorized under section 163D‑4(a)(11), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to "[c]arry out specialized programs designed to develop new markets for Hawaii agricultural products", and under section 163D-4(a)(6), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to "[c]arry out surveys, research, and investigations into technological, business, financial, consumer trends, and other aspects of agricultural production in the national and international community".
The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation for the research, development, and marketing of the ulu breadfruit.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for research, development, and marketing of the ulu breadfruit.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Agriculture; Ulu Breadfruit; Appropriation
Description:
Makes an appropriation for research, development, and marketing of the ulu breadfruit.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.