SCR214

WHEREAS, Act 55, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, amended the objectives and policies of the Hawaii State Planning Act to encourage the purchase and use of Hawaii grown food and food products by residents, businesses, and governmental bodies; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Department of Education serves over 100,000 nutritionally balanced, affordable meals a day to over eighty-five percent of the youth in Hawaii. The Department's Food Services Branch supports public schools statewide to ensure that their meal programs comply with federal and state child nutrition standards; and

WHEREAS, farm-to-school activities can improve students' physical activity, academic performance, school meal participation, preference for fresh fruits and vegetables, and other healthy behaviors, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases and other health conditions later in life. Farm-to school programs also can increase educational opportunities and support a nutritious school environment; and

WHEREAS, Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, established a farm-to-school initiative within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to address the issues of supply, demand, procurement, and consumption of Hawaii-grown foods in state facilities, primarily education facilities, and take reasonable steps to incorporate more agriculture and nutrition education in schools; and

WHEREAS, the farm-to-school initiative today has been incorporated into the ‘Aina Pono Program, which the Food Services Branch formed to unite the initiative with its existing health and nutrition education programs, such as ‘Aina Pono Harvest of the Month, test kitchens, meal programs, menu planning, and school gardens; and

WHEREAS, this farm-to-school initiative, through ‘Aina Pono, develops affordable and healthy menus using fresh, local foods for the students attending the Kohala School Complex on the Big Island and, since 2018, Mililani High, Mililani Uka Elementary, and Mililani Waena Elementary schools on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, farmers in Hawaii face many challenges on their way to achieving economic sustainability; and

WHEREAS, food hubs provide these small to mid-sized farmers and producers, who are often unable to afford or manage trucks, warehouses, processing space, and storage spaces, with facilities for aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing support; and

WHEREAS, supporting local farmers is essential to the economic development and self-reliance of the State; and

WHEREAS, by helping local farmers become or remain economically sustainable, food hubs increase local farmers' ability to participate in larger agricultural markets, while increasing consumers' access to fresh, locally grown food and value-added products; and

WHEREAS, food hubs support Hawaii's rural communities and present opportunities for new generations of local farmers to work and live in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, increasing the procurement of local agricultural products for schools promotes local farmers, encourages the local agriculture industry, and supports government's goal of doubling local food production and improving food security for the entire State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii State Department Of Education Food Services Branch through ‘Aina Pono adopt an addendum to its agreement for ‘Aina Pono requiring the procurement of goods and/or services from food hubs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Administrator for the State Procurement Office, Superintendent of the Hawaii Department of Education, and Director of the Hawaii Department of Education's School Food Services Branch.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE Food Services Branch; ‘Aina Pono; Procurement; Food Hubs

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	214
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII