STAND. COM. REP. NO.  41-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1662

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1662 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote public awareness of the Farm to School Initiative that connects schools and local farms and to improve student access to healthy foods; provide agriculture, health, and nutrition education opportunities; and support local farmers by designating the month of October as "Farm to School Month in Hawaii".

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Maui School Garden Network, Hawaii Farm to School, School Garden Hui, Hawaii Island School Garden Network-The Kohala Center, Farm to Keiki, and several individuals testified in support of this bill.

     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. 1662 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Education.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair