STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2074

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3087

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3087 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to:

(1) Identify factors that affect the quality of local papayas; and

(2) Develop and establish protocols to enhance the marketability of the Hawaiian solo papaya.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; and Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committee finds that Hawaiian papaya is delicious; however, the quality of local papaya needs improvement to flourish as an export. While the flavor and texture of local papaya are highly desired, transportation of the product, treatment for fruit fly control, handling, shipping, and storage of the product prior to distribution, and shelf life need to be improved to enable export of papaya in high quantities. Your Committee further finds that developing and establishing protocols to enhance the marketability of the Hawaiian papaya can help grow the market.

Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing all references to "the Hawaiian solo papaya" with references to "Hawaiian papayas" to clarify that this measure applies to all Hawaiian papayas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3087, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3087, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair