STAND. COM. REP. NO.2540

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2665

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2665, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL MARKETING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish, as a five-year pilot project, a temporary agricultural cooperative association in the County of Maui to assist farmers with marketing their produce and products.

Your Committee finds that the growth of Hawaii's agricultural industry is not constrained by the ability of local farmers to grow produce and manufacture products, but by their inability to market their produce and products locally, nationally, and internationally. Simply stated, there is no purpose in growing produce or manufacturing a product commercially if it cannot be taken to market.

Your Committee also finds that the Agribusiness Development Corporation, established pursuant to Act 264, Session Laws of Hawaii 1994, is tasked with:

(1) Assisting agricultural enterprises by conducting detailed marketing analysis and developing marketing and promotional strategies to strengthen the position of those enterprises and to better exploit local, national, and international markets; and

(2) Developing feasible strategies for the promotion, marketing, and distribution of Hawaii agricultural products in local, national, and international markets.

Your Committee finds that this measure will enable farmers in the county of Maui to market their produce and products in an effective and efficient manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2665, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2665, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair