House Committee on Finance (FIN) - chair: Sylvia Luke, vice chair: Scott Y. Nishimoto, Aaron Ling Johanson

Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 11:15 a.m. Room 308

Testifier: Nancy Davlantes, Legislative Committee, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view HB1184, HD1

Chair Luke, Vice-Chairs Nishimoto and Johanson, and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports HB1184, HD1, which would require the Department of Agriculture to develop a food sustainability standard to promote local food production to help diversify the local economy. For more than 20 years, the League of Women Voters has supported a system of sustainable, regenerative agricultural production that moves toward an environmentally sound agricultural sector which includes promoting stewardship to preserve and protect human and natural agricultural resources. The League believes that if agriculture is to be sustainable and regenerative in Hawaii, given its isolation from the Mainland, it must include increasing production of locally grown foods; encouraging the marketing, purchasing, and consumption of locally grown foods; and supporting an agricultural workforce and infrastructure. Together these efforts will move Hawaii toward more of a self-sufficient future. The League believes that HB1184, HD1 is an important step to that end and urges you to pass this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.