HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

170

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting a study to achieve a fifty percent reduction in the total amount of imported food purchased by the residents of hawaii.

 

 

WHEREAS, self-sufficiency in the production of agricultural products is a highly desirable state and a national security goal; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Hawaii is overly dependent on imported foods; and

WHEREAS, diversified agriculture has been increasing at an average annual rate of 3.8 percent between 1992 and 2000; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's farmers made significant progress toward self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables in 2000; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture (Department) form a Task Force to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of achieving a 50 percent reduction in the total amount of imported food purchased by the residents of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force consist of representatives of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and any other organizations deemed appropriate by the Department; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force make decisions about whether to address the volume or value of food imports, production constraints, crop cycles, consumer preferences, competition in price and quality from imported products, and the budget and infrastructure needed to achieve the targeted goal; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, the President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and the Director of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Reducing the total amount of imported food purchased in Hawaii.