Alert: Let’s Get These Good Food Systems Bills Through a Final Hearing in the House!
PC: Marie Eriel Hobro
GOOD NEWS!
Many of our good food systems House bills have been scheduled for their final hearing in the House Finance Committee (FIN).
There are two back-to-back FIN hearings this Thursday. Please testify in support!
HEARING INFO
House Committee on Finance
Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 10:00 AM
Conference Room 308 or via Zoom
Testimony is due Wednesday, February 22nd at 10 AM
This excellent op-ed by Kelsey Amos and Kahealani Acosta breaks down how these bills address challenges in implementing farm-to-school. We pulled their succinct bill descriptions from this article:
Civil Beat Community Voice - How Hawaiʻi Can Make Farm to School Actually Happen.
Farm-to-School Bills
HB248 HD2 : Farm-to-School
Delegates responsibility and authority for meeting farm-to-school goals from the statewide level to the complex area level. Provides complex area superintendents the authority to work with school principals and cafeteria supervisors on hitting farm-to-school goals by the 2024-2025 school year. This reorganization would also regionalize school food menus, allowing complex areas to work with and purchase from local farmers.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
While Hawaiʻi has made great strides in setting goals for increasing locally sourced food in school lunch programs, the program is currently not on target to meet these goals.
One challenge has been a lack of decision-making power to implement farm-to-school purchasing at the local level. Shifting our local procurement for school meals towards more regionalized decision-making will empower more flexible sourcing from local food producers.
HB248 HD2 will support local food producers by increasing their markets, minimizing carbon emissions from transport, and providing more healthy and culturally appropriate food for keiki.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
HB250 HD1: Farm-to-School Procurement
Requires the Department of Education (DOE) to adopt rules for the procurement of goods and services that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised agricultural products. This bill would facilitate an increase in local food purchasing, and allow school complexes to regionalize their menus.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
Please support this effort to regionalize our farm-to-school initiative while bringing fresh and healthy locally-raised food to our keiki.
Local food procurement provides economic benefits to local food systems by providing a long-term revenue stream for farmers and other food producers, promoting market diversification, and increasing income and economic growth opportunities for individual farmers.
HB250 HD1 bill will help to facilitate the increase of locally grown and locally raised food products from Hawaiʻi farmers, ranchers, and food producers and allow school complexes to regionalize their menus.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
PC: Jimmy Conover
Grants for Taro Production, Sustainable Food Systems Plan, and Funding for DA BUX
Three bills that support taro farmers, create a sustainable food system plan for Hawaiʻi, and support the successful DA BUX program all have a hearing in the House Finance Committee later the same day!
HEARING INFO
House Committee on Finance
Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 11:30 AM
Conference Room 308 or via Zoom
Testimony is due Wednesday, February 22nd at 11:30 AM.
HB275 HD1:Grants for Taro Production
Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to provide grants to assist taro farmers in meeting the costs of cultivating taro for consumption.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
HB275 HD1 is a critical and necessary step towards supporting Native Hawaiian traditional foodways, farming, and food security for Hawaiʻi. We need to do everything we can to support the expansion of farming and particularly the cultivation of taro (kalo) which is so culturally significant and an essential part of our landscape, history, food security, and community.
We believe this measure is a great way to support a Native cultural practice and Hawaiʻi’s staple food. Supporting taro farmers will also help to keep traditional Native Hawaiian practices and vital agricultural knowledge alive.
Kalo is a valued landscape and is recognized as the State Plant. Kalo farmers need and deserve support to ensure taro farming continues to grow and expand into the future. This measure helps to incentivize farmers to grow taro, one of the healthiest staple starch foods available.
Please support HB275 HD1.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
HB308 HD1: Sustainable Food Systems
Establishes the sustainable food systems working group within the Department of Agriculture (DOA). Requires the working group to submit a plan, any recommendations for implementing the plan, and any proposed legislation to the legislature.
Read more about why supporting a sustainable food system is important.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
Too many families in Hawaiʻi are facing food insecurity, our farmers struggle to access affordable land and water, and climate change poses threats to our local food production. However, a more resilient food system can address these various challenges but only if we take a coordinated approach.
We can meet our goals of increasing local food production while also diversifying our local economy. Because our food system is so broad and complex, a plan will be needed to identify how the various sectors of our food system can work together to increase local food security.
A coordinated food systems plan led by key stakeholders across our food system can help connect the dots between local food producers, consumers, state institutional purchasing, and community anti-hunger efforts. This work is critical to identifying and advancing solutions to our reliance on imports and creating a sustainable and equitable food economy.
Please support HB308 HD1 to create a sustainable food systems working plan for Hawaiʻi.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
HB1248 HD1: Funding for DA BUX
Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture (DOA) for the continued administration of the Hawaiʻi healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Learn more about the impact of DA BUX Double Up Food Bux here.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
DA BUX program partners with food retailers to make Hawaiʻi grown fruits and vegetables more affordable for SNAP-EBT cardholders. Through DA BUX, SNAP benefit dollars are doubled when they’re spent on qualifying local food items at more than 70 participating retail locations statewide. Those items tend to be healthier produce and fresh foods and being locally sourced directly supports Hawaiʻi’s food economy.
Even before the pandemic, DA BUX program was succeeding. Now more than ever, it is changing lives for the better in four very tangible and important ways including:
Putting more food on the tables of local families in need
Providing incentives that encourage people to buy locally grown and produced food
Strengthening the local economy by keeping more dollars in the Islands
Improving local health by providing incentives to eat fresher, unprocessed foods
DA BUX program works and should be continued and expanded upon where possible. The program is a tangible solution to supporting local food production and helping families access quality fresh food.
Please support HB1248 HD1.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
