Action Alert: Support Local Farmers & Food Producers!
Our local farmers and food producers in Hawaiʻi face a myriad of challenges from accessing affordable land, labor, workforce housing to increasing climate impacts and the overall high cost of living and doing business in Hawaiʻi. Profit margins are razor thin for our local food producers and yet less than 1% of our state budget is dedicated to supporting our agricultural sector.
It is well known that Hawaiʻi imports an estimated 85-90% of our food. For Hawaiʻi to meet Aloha+ Challenge goals of increasing local food production and consumption to 30% by 2030 we must provide targeted support to incentivize our agricultural sector.
Two bills providing support for our local farmers and food producers have been scheduled for a hearing this Wednesday. Please take a moment to submit testimony in support!
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment (AEN)
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 1:00pm
Conference Room 224 & Videoconference
State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street
Please submit written testimony in support by Tuesday, Feb. 6th at 1pm
Support SB 3247: Interisland Shipping Tax Credit for Produce & Ag Goods
What Does This Bill Do?
Creates an income tax credit for transportation costs incurred by certain taxpayers who ship produce and agricultural goods between counties.
Sample Testimony:
Aloha Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Richards and Members of the Committee,
Please support SB 3247 which creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are farmers, or are producers of agricultural commodities, cooperatives, broad line distributors, or food hubs who ship products and agricultural goods between counties.
Establishing an inter-island produce shipping tax credit will help alleviate the costs of inter-island shipping for farmers and ranchers in the State which is an important part of supporting our local agriculture sector and food security.
The cost of inter-island transportation is a bottleneck for market access by food producers in Hawaiʻi. This issue is also recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture, which administers a reimbursement transportation cost payment program for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers..
The reimbursement transportation cost payment program helps eligible farmers and ranchers in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific offset their costs for transporting agricultural products or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity over long distances.
Providing an income tax credit like the reimbursement transportation cost payment program that similarly reimburses producers for a portion of the cost to transport agricultural goods between the counties will reduce cost impacts to farm viability and consumer food price and support progress towards the State’s Aloha+ Challenge commitment to increase local food consumption and production.
Please support local food producers and distributors and pass SB 3247.
Mahalo for your consideration!
Your Name, Town
(You will need a Capitol website account)
Support SB 3302: Farmer & Producer Tax Credit
What Does This Bill Do?
Creates an income tax credit for qualified expenses of eligible farmers, ranchers, and fishers.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Aloha Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Richards and Members of the Committee,
Please support SB 3302 which would create an income tax credit to alleviate the high costs of production for farmers, ranchers, and fishers and incentivize growth in the agricultural sector in the State.
This bill would create tax credits for farmers, ranchers, and fishers, helping to offset the high costs of production that create barriers to making farming/food production economically viable in Hawaiʻi. It is also important to note that this bill defines "eligible farmer" as a taxpayer that provides proof of at least two-thirds of excess federal gross income from farming or ranching. Therefore this bill specifically targets food producers whose livelihood is primarily earned from local food production, targeting support where it can be most impactful.
Support for our local food producers will allow them to invest more in their businesses and will provide much needed support to grow and sustain our agriculture sector. Please support SB 3302.
Mahalo for your consideration!
Your Name, Town
(You will need a Capitol website account)
View HAPA’s 2024 Fair & Sustainable Food Systems Policy Agenda
Join us this session in supporting a broad array of bills designed to support local farmers, food producers, increase local food production, address inequities in our food system such as food insecurity, and support regenerative and indigenous farming/food production practices.
See more information below about HAPA’s 2024 FSFS policy agenda below and take action in support of these Fair & Sustainable Food System policy priorities!
New to Legislative Engagement? Learn more about how to engage in the Legislative Session!
Make sure you have set up your account on the Hawaii State Legislature website. If you are new to the process, see this helpful page on legislative engagement 101 from the Public Access Room including a link on how to submit testimony!
About Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action
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The Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) is deeply committed to championing social, economic, and environmental justice throughout Hawaiʻi. Recognizing the interconnected nature of food systems, we underscore that the challenges plaguing these systems are not isolated from broader social, economic, and environmental concerns. We believe in an integrated approach that addresses these interdependencies to create a just, equitable, and sustainable future for Hawaiʻi.
Contact: info@hapahi.org | (808) 212-9616
