STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3253

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 131

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 131 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR AS "FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH" IN HAWAII TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT FARM TO SCHOOL INITIATIVES IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to designate the month of October of each year as "Farm to School Month" in Hawaii to strengthen and support farm to school initiatives in Hawaii's schools.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii State Teachers Association, National Farm to School Network, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Local Food Coalition, and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that farm to school initiatives connect schools and local farms with the objective of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, and lowering childhood obesity.  Such initiatives give students access to fresh, local foods and numerous educational opportunities.  Farm to school programs already exist in some schools in Hawaii, and your Committees further find that the United States Congress has designated October as National Farm to School Month.  This measure would align Hawaii's farm to school policy with the national initiative and draw attention within the State to the important issue of sustainable, healthy, local food in Hawaii's schools.  Your Committees additionally find that the average age of commercial farmers in Hawaii is over sixty years old, and encouraging students to develop the farming workforce will benefit the industry.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by noting that the average age of Hawaii's commercial farmers is over sixty years old and action is necessary to encourage students to look at career paths in the farming industry and increasing farm-related workforce development.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 131, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 131, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair