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Comm. 713.1 <br />Res. 305 -10 (Draft 2) <br />Page -2- <br />Glenna Owens, State Department of Education Director of Food Services, was called to testify <br />by Committee Chairman Enriques. She reported the State DOE serves approximately 100,000 <br />school meals each day. <br />Ms. Owens stated the goal of this resolution is not feasible in the short term, and that many other <br />Departments must also be involved. DOE is supportive of the Farm -To- School initiatives, yet <br />cautions that even an abundant local crop such as papayas cannot always be supplied, and many <br />kinds of basic fruits and vegetables are frequently unavailable. Orders go unfilled. Local <br />vendors are DOE suppliers on a best buy status, and are asked to specify product origin, if <br />known. DOE only purchases from wholesalers, not directly from farmers. <br />The DOE objects to the State Legislation language "healthier and more nutritious meals ", <br />because the implication is the DOE does not serve healthy meals. Meals have improved strongly <br />in that direction over the years. The resolution does not need to be critical of the past. <br />Council Member Kelly Greenwell stated Farm -To- School may help revitalize our economic <br />future. <br />Richard Ha, Hawai`i County Farmer and State Energy Commissioner, was introduced by <br />Chairman Enriques. Mr. Ha testified his farms have supplied vendors who have supplied the <br />schools, but stated it is very challenging to meet DOE requirements. Assuring product safety <br />and certification can also be a large expense for the small farmer. <br />Council Member Pete Hoffmann introduced Kathy Amaral, who reminded the Committee an <br />agricultural product processing facility in North Kohala was recently approved by this same <br />County Council. She re- emphasized the comments made by Mr. Hoffmann and Mr. Greenwell <br />positing farm cooperatives will be necessary to meet economies of scale. <br />Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose <br />and intent of Resolution 305 -10, Draft 2, and recommends its adoption. <br />bw <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS <br />AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL <br />RELATIONS <br />GU f EN • �1 . ES, C <br />PWIRC RE <br />ADOPTED: <br />�� N0 7 1010 <br />AYES <br />NOES <br />A&E <br />EX <br />ENRIQUES <br />X <br />FORD <br />X <br />GREENWELL <br />X <br />HOFFMANN <br />X <br />IKEDA <br />X <br />NAEOLE <br />X <br />ONISHI <br />X <br />YAGONG <br />X <br />YOSHIMOTO <br />X <br />Comm. 713.1 <br />Res. 305 -10 (Draft 2) <br />Page -2- <br />Glenna Owens, State Department of Education Director of Food Services, was called to testify <br />by Committee Chairman Enriques. She reported the State DOE serves approximately 100,000 <br />school meals each day. <br />Ms. Owens stated the goal of this resolution is not feasible in the short term, and that many other <br />Departments must also be involved. DOE is supportive of the Farm -To- School initiatives, yet <br />cautions that even an abundant local crop such as papayas cannot always be supplied, and many <br />kinds of basic fruits and vegetables are frequently unavailable. Orders go unfilled. Local <br />vendors are DOE suppliers on a best buy status, and are asked to specify product origin, if <br />known. DOE only purchases from wholesalers, not directly from farmers. <br />The DOE objects to the State Legislation language "healthier and more nutritious meals ", <br />because the implication is the DOE does not serve healthy meals. Meals have improved strongly <br />in that direction over the years. The resolution does not need to be critical of the past. <br />Council Member Kelly Greenwell stated Farm -To- School may help revitalize our economic <br />future. <br />Richard Ha, Hawai`i County Farmer and State Energy Commissioner, was introduced by <br />Chairman Enriques. Mr. Ha testified his farms have supplied vendors who have supplied the <br />schools, but stated it is very challenging to meet DOE requirements. Assuring product safety <br />and certification can also be a large expense for the small farmer. <br />Council Member Pete Hoffmann introduced Kathy Amaral, who reminded the Committee an <br />agricultural product processing facility in North Kohala was recently approved by this same <br />County Council. She re- emphasized the comments made by Mr. Hoffmann and Mr. Greenwell <br />positing farm cooperatives will be necessary to meet economies of scale. <br />Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose <br />and intent of Resolution 305 -10, Draft 2, and recommends its adoption. <br />bw <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS <br />AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL <br />RELATIONS <br />GU f EN • �1 . ES, C <br />PWIRC RE <br />ADOPTED: <br />�� N0 7 1010 <br />