HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0713.002 2008-2010COMM. 713
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305 - relating to Farm -to- School (FTS) Programs COUNTY t,'F WO/111!I
Re: Resolution No
February 23, 2010
Honorable Hawaii County Council members,
We, the Executive Committee of NPAC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition) of
Hawaii County, are writing to express our support of Resolution No. 305 -10, which provides an
initial policy step in supporting the health of our students and the agriculture economy of our
county and state.
NPAC is a statewide organization under the Hawaii Dept. of FIealth, Healthy i lawaii
Initiative, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Office of Public Health Studies. NPAC. supports
policy, environmental and systems changes necessary to improve the health of Hawaii's residents.
Resolution No. 305 -10 is fundamentally beneficial to the public health of our state and
supports one of NPAC's key pillars. Indeed, NPAC is currently networking with many
organizations on the county state, and national level to make the Farm -to- School (FTS) initiative
a reality in Hawaii, as it already is III many states. First Lady Michelle Obama supports this work
with her recent "Let's Move" campaign and the fight against childhood obesity. Childhood
obesity is a tremendous problem in Hawaii and. unless addressed, could cost Hawaii dearly in
quality of life and health care expenses. IFS initiatives address this problem directly by
improving the quality of food available to our students through school lunches.
School lunches provide a significant market for Hawaii farmers and save tremendous
expenses in transport energy. There are many hurdles to address in the FTS process, which could
take at least five years or longer to accomplish. However, such obstacles can be overcome when
policy makers provide their support for agricultural endeavors at every possible opportunity.
Hawaii County has an opportunity to demonstrate its innovative position and be on the
cutting edge of FTS work and supporting our agricultural economy by passing Resolution No.
305 -10 Please contact any member of the Executive Conunittec if you have further questions
Our state vvebsitc is www.npachawaii.org.
K arl'en 1'UCISS12r, P .
Vice -Chair for NPAC HI County
( 808 - 640 -4938. k forissicna•hotmail.com)
, 1
Shawndra Holmberg
\ i
E HI county NPAC coordinator
(808-333-6861, Shawndra NPAC'cdhucks.cont)
PIPWIRG
Hawaii County NPAC
C/o Kathie Pomeroy, N.1)., W IIncdinarg'rU
P O Box 1556
Kapa'au, HI 96755
1010 Mflfl 1 819 9 39
Kathie Pomeroy. N.D.
W 11I county NPAC coordinator
(808 - 315 - 0547, npaca *ood!u
3.2
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Ref. To:
C No 71
Ref. Dote 1Al 0