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COMM. 713 <br />Ne <br />Sincerely, <br />N PA <br />..:•.,:: tJulntirm.ma <br />r� chnty Coalition <br />.. „. <br />.;1!i•!'�• (. :I. :. ERIK <br />305 - relating to Farm -to- School (FTS) Programs COUNTY t,'F WO/111!I <br />Re: Resolution No <br />February 23, 2010 <br />Honorable Hawaii County Council members, <br />We, the Executive Committee of NPAC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition) of <br />Hawaii County, are writing to express our support of Resolution No. 305 -10, which provides an <br />initial policy step in supporting the health of our students and the agriculture economy of our <br />county and state. <br />NPAC is a statewide organization under the Hawaii Dept. of FIealth, Healthy i lawaii <br />Initiative, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Office of Public Health Studies. NPAC. supports <br />policy, environmental and systems changes necessary to improve the health of Hawaii's residents. <br />Resolution No. 305 -10 is fundamentally beneficial to the public health of our state and <br />supports one of NPAC's key pillars. Indeed, NPAC is currently networking with many <br />organizations on the county state, and national level to make the Farm -to- School (FTS) initiative <br />a reality in Hawaii, as it already is III many states. First Lady Michelle Obama supports this work <br />with her recent "Let's Move" campaign and the fight against childhood obesity. Childhood <br />obesity is a tremendous problem in Hawaii and. unless addressed, could cost Hawaii dearly in <br />quality of life and health care expenses. IFS initiatives address this problem directly by <br />improving the quality of food available to our students through school lunches. <br />School lunches provide a significant market for Hawaii farmers and save tremendous <br />expenses in transport energy. There are many hurdles to address in the FTS process, which could <br />take at least five years or longer to accomplish. However, such obstacles can be overcome when <br />policy makers provide their support for agricultural endeavors at every possible opportunity. <br />Hawaii County has an opportunity to demonstrate its innovative position and be on the <br />cutting edge of FTS work and supporting our agricultural economy by passing Resolution No. <br />305 -10 Please contact any member of the Executive Conunittec if you have further questions <br />Our state vvebsitc is www.npachawaii.org. <br />K arl'en 1'UCISS12r, P . <br />Vice -Chair for NPAC HI County <br />( 808 - 640 -4938. k forissicna•hotmail.com) <br />, 1 <br />Shawndra Holmberg <br />\ i <br />E HI county NPAC coordinator <br />(808-333-6861, Shawndra NPAC'cdhucks.cont) <br />PIPWIRG <br />Hawaii County NPAC <br />C/o Kathie Pomeroy, N.1)., W IIncdinarg'rU <br />P O Box 1556 <br />Kapa'au, HI 96755 <br />1010 Mflfl 1 819 9 39 <br />Kathie Pomeroy. N.D. <br />W 11I county NPAC coordinator <br />(808 - 315 - 0547, npaca *ood!u <br />3.2 <br />ontm <br />Ref. To: <br />C No 71 <br />Ref. Dote 1Al 0 <br />