HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0745.018 2010-2012 (ii"
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HAWAII AGRITOURISM ASSOCIATION
ESTABLISHED.2007
September 4, 2012
Mahalo Chair and County Council members for allowing me to provide testimony
regarding amendments relating to Agricultural Tourism.
My name is Lani Medina Weigert, of the Hawaii AgriTourism Association which is a
statewide 501c3 non profit organization founded in 2007 here on the Big Island. I live in
Hilo and have operated an Ag tourism farm for the last 10 years called Alii Kula
Lavender Farm on Maui, as well as work with other ag tourism farms such as the
Hawaiian Vanilla farm in Paauilo. Both of our farms operate under a Special use permit
which cost us an average of$45,000 each. I'm here in hopes that the start up small
farmer won't have to go through such expense of a special use or plan approval permit
because this amended ordinance will allow them to be in compliance.
I think the amended definition of Agricultural tourism is a better and a truer definition of
what actually happens on the farms.
Identifying Major vs minor operations allows a greater amount of"start up" small farms
to get"out of the gate" faster rather than being saddled by a cumbersome, expensive plan
approval that most farmers won't have the wear with all and/or resources to do.
By streamlining and simplifying this ag tourism county code, it will be easier for farmers
and ranchers to understand and comply with the code. The revised code will encourage
more farmers to try and diversify. The sale of value added products such as jams and
jellies opens the opportunity to sell over the web, ship beyond Hawaii and bring in"new"
revenue, selling retail without a middle man, and increase the shelf life of the crop from
12 days to 12 months simply by putting it in a jar.
A papaya farmer who sells his raw crop for$2 a pound could potentially increase that
amount turning the papayas into a jar of papaya/pineapple jam, and sell it for$6 and
using 2nd & 31t1 grade papayas that were unsellable to begin with.
Comm. No 7 45. 18
Ref.To: ri um",Gil
Ref. Date SEP 0 4 2012
The amendments also address:
Operating hours of 8a to 6pm to eliminate noise concerns.
Farms with less than 15,000 visitors a year will transport guests in 15 passenger vans or
regular passenger vehicles, so bus traffic and noise will not be an issue.
Larger operations will still be held to plan approval which does address traffic, size of
vehicles, parking, and sewage.
Ag Tourism supports local — local farms, local people. It also strengthens a community.
In my experience, a majority of the guests that frequent ag tour farms are children from
the local schools and senior citizens from our community centers. Lots of local residents
want to visit farms, but currently so few are open to the public.
Ag Tour farms and ranches are typically nicer in appearance because they receive guests
on a regular basis vs farms that are not as conscious about beautification. This adds value
and pride to our communities and increases property values.
Ag Tourism is about creating economic development through diversifying revenue
streams for already struggling farmers and ranchers. Ag Tourism can sustain a business
and family legacy, as well as be a great asset to any community. I ask for your support of
these amendments.
Ag tourism directly impacts our food security, because with more farmers thriving, more
food will be grown.
Mahalo!
Testimony continued
Lani Medina Weigert
Submitted: September 4, 2012