STAND. COM. REP. NO.  779

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1051

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1051, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help protect the identity of Hawaii's high-quality and high-value agricultural products by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules relating to the declaration of Hawaii geographic origin for agricultural commodities.   

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, Hawaii Coffee Association, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Coffee Growers Association, Royal Kona Coffee Visitor Center Mill and Museum, Intelligent Blends, Paradise Beverages Inc., and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1051, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair