STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2396

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2982

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2982 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A FOOD HUB PILOT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to establish a five-year food hub pilot program to increase access to local food;

(2) Allow the awarding of grants to qualified applicants wishing to establish or expand a food hub;

(3) Require a report to the legislature; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Adaptations, Inc.; A‘a Li‘i Farm; Pono Hawai‘i Initiative; Sustainable Kohala; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Grow Some Good; Birds With Arms Farms; Hawaii Foodbank; Ho‘ola Farms; We Are One, Inc.; Our Revolution Hawaii; Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Producers Cooperative; Aloha Harvest; and sixty-five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the State's food security may be strengthened by growing more local food. Food hubs play a vital role in ensuring that food grown locally is accessible to consumers by providing greater access to institutional and retail markets throughout the State. This measure supports the establishment and expansion of food hubs to increase access to locally-produced food.

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. 2982 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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