STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2118

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3023

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 3023 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND MARKETING OF THE ULU BREADFRUIT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the research, development, and marketing of ‘ulu, or breadfruit.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Agribusiness Development Corporation, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that breadfruit, or ‘ulu, is a traditional Hawaiian crop with unrecognized potential as an agricultural commodity.  It is rich in nutritional content, can be easily grown in Hawaii, and can be used to create gluten-free products.  By supporting development of an ‘ulu industry, this measure will help revive the harvesting of ‘ulu and create a valuable commercial crop that will increase food security and self-sufficiency in Hawaii. 

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 3023, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3023, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair