HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

208

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

convening a working group to examine farm to school models.

 

 


WHEREAS, the farm to school program connects schools with local farms with the objectives of supporting local agriculture, educating students about food cultivation, mitigating adverse environmental impacts caused by transporting food across long distances, and instilling healthy eating habits in students; and

 

WHEREAS, the farm to school program contains two major components:  first, students receive education on nutrition, and are taught the value of buying and eating local food, and second, local food is served in school cafeterias, giving students the choice to eat healthier and fresher produce; and

 

WHEREAS, the National Farm to School Program reports that some form of the farm to school program is currently operating in 8,776 schools in forty different states; and

 

     WHEREAS, several Hawaii schools participate in alternative farm to school programs, including:

 

     (1)  AINA IS: Actively Integrating Nutrition & Agriculture in Schools is a farm to school program currently in ten Oahu elementary schools:  Aikahi, Waialae, Wheeler, Makaha, Ahuimanu, Samuel M. Kamakau charter school, Waikiki, Ala Wai, Sunset Beach, and Waialua;

 

     (2)  Moanalua Elementary School and Moanalua Intermediate and High School, which feed their students by using local foods and a school garden, which is incorporated as part of their learning;

 

     (3)  MAO Organic Farms is an organic farm located in Waianae, Oahu, with two farm to school projects in Waianae Intermediate and High School, including a half-acre on-campus organic garden - the first Hawaii public school to have a certified organic garden; and

 

     (4)  The Kohala Center, through its Hawaii Island School Garden Network, works with over forty-five public, charter, and private schools on Hawaii island to help island schools build gardening and agricultural programs that will significantly contribute to the increased consumption of locally produced foods; and

 

WHEREAS, these schools and programs can serve as models for an expansion of the farm to school program in public schools statewide; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Technology; Higher Education; and Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, the House Committees on Economic Revitalization, Business and Military Affairs; Higher Education; and Agriculture convene a working group to examine farm to school models; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the examination include local models such as AINA IS:  Actively Integrating Nutrition & Agriculture in Schools, Moanalua Elementary School, MAO Organic Farms, and The Kohala Center, as well as national programs such as the Summer Food Service Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, School Breakfast Program, and Afternoon Snack Program; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group propose a pilot farm to school program for each island, to include, at minimum:

 

     (1)  Concepts of local, fresh food production, safety, supply, and procurement;

 

     (2)  Infrastructure development;

 

     (3)  Financing;

 

     (4)  Health and nutrition education; and

 

     (5)  Family and community outreach and involvement; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group members be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group report its findings and recommendations, including a pilot farm to school program for each island to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Superintendent of Education, and the Chair of Board of Education.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Farm to School Pilot Program; Working Group; 2011 Report