THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	129
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE TEA INDUSTRY TO COLLABORATE ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO DEFINE TEA AS AN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY UNDER CHAPTER 147, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, AND ESTABLISH STANDARDS THAT DEFINE GEOGRAPHICAL REGION DESIGNATIONS FOR TEA GROWN IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, the image of Hawaii can be used as a tool to increase brand recognition and market share; and

     WHEREAS, many businesses neither produce nor use products that are made in Hawaii, yet claim their commodities as such, and lead consumers to believe that consumers are purchasing a "made in Hawaii" or "produced in Hawaii" commodity; and

     WHEREAS, tea is a significant niche crop that has significant future potential in the State; and

     WHEREAS, over the past twelve years, there has been tea research and the development of small family farms that grow Camellia sinensis and assamica tea varietals in Hawaii and the mainland United States; and

     WHEREAS, the Tea of the United States (TOTUS) Awards, the first national tea competition specifically for United States grown tea, encourages those who have pioneered United States tea farming to gain national recognition for their uniquely crafted teas and further educate consumers supporting domestic tea agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Office of Research and Development awarded a grant to co-fund a tea competition program with the intent to enable a broad range of communities to contribute to and access data from the TOTUS Awards that advances research in domestic tea agriculture, cultural development, and innovative trade; and

     WHEREAS, most tea in Hawaii is grown on the Hilo side of the island of Hawaii and grown in volcanic soil; and

     WHEREAS, the ability for an applicant to register a product's origin according to standards that define a geographic region designation for tea would enable Hawaii tea growers to benefit from the image of Hawaii while also honing their products in anticipation of the TOTUS Awards; and

     WHEREAS, tea is not currently defined as an agricultural commodity under chapter 147, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and therefore the Department of Agriculture does not have statutory authority to adopt geographical region designation standards for tea grown in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, encouraging the Department of Agriculture and the tea industry to collaborate on proposed legislation would be beneficial to the development of Hawaii's growing tea industry; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture and the tea industry are encouraged to collaborate on proposed legislation to define tea as an agricultural commodity under chapter 147, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and establish standards that define geographical region designations for tea grown in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017 on the proposed legislation developed in collaboration with the tea industry; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

Report Title: 

Department of Agriculture; Tea Industry; Geographical Region Designations; Agricultural Commodity; Proposed Legislation