Thank you, Daniel from Hawaii. Apple Seed Aloha, Chair Richards, Chair Gabard, Chair Kim, um members of the committee. My name is Nellisto. I'm with White Apples Seed. We stand on our supportive testimony. Um I think we would be fine with I think adjusting the um alignment of the benchmarks from the Farm to State Act 175 and 176. If the department of education is has um you know hesitations about being able to achieve those goals, I think the most important thing is aligning them so there's not two separate sets of goals for the different um different agencies. We think that the position in the governor's office is going to be very important and making sure that there's an accountability and that there's you know the same benchmarks and the same sort of accountability for all of the departments across the the state. So we think that piece of it is really important and also the accountability clause that we'll have you know in case they don't meet the benchmarks some kind of a remediation plan.
So we do think that those components are important but I think maybe if we needed to adjust the different um actual benchmarks that that would be probably um still effective. Thank you so much. Thank you Monata from Initiative Chair Gabbert, Chair Kedani, Chair Kim, members of the committees. Mike Monikati here on behalf of the Lupon Initiative. We'll stand on our testimony in support of this bill. Um like previous testifiers mentioned, we're all supportive of getting more local food into our meal programs across the state. um a lot of great work and a lot of great policy passed in 2021 through acts 175 and 176. So really do appreciate this legislative body to move those things forward. Um I think this bill is just looking to sort of align goals. Um I but but really I think one of the main things is is creating a resource within within the governor's office as well to to really support some of the collaboration that's needed some of the difficulties that even DOE just mentioned in their testimony.
I think a a resource in house would help to um alleviate some of those concerns and really to speak with farmers to get them on board um to meet some of the needs that are that are um currently being sought out with these various meal programs across the state. So um we look forward to working very closely with the departments and including the DOE on on anything we can do to be supportive as a community um whether that's um potentially some funding or even supporting some of their plan making. Um, we we'd definitely be open to those conversations as well. Thank you very much, chair. Thank you, Nicole Galass from the Hawaii Catalance Council. Thank you, chairs, vice chairs, members of the committees. I'm Nicole Galassi on behalf of the Hawaii Cattleman's Council. We're in support of this bill and increasing local food purchasing allows for more of a stable market and that's an important factor for our producers to plan for their operations.
Um and tracking that product or tracking that progress is key as we move forward uh to make sure that the producers can meet all of these needs. Mahalo. Thank you, Nicole. Next is Hunter Heavlin from Hawaii Farmers Union United. In support, Dennis Chase from the Hawaii Public Health Institute. Chair, vice chair, committee members, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. My name is Dennis Chase. I work for the Hawaii Public Health Institute as the program manager for the farm-toschool hoie which consists of over 40 organizations statewide that are interested in supporting and helping to increase the farm-to-school capacity in the state. Um, we are in support of this bill and as some of my predecessors in this testimony have said, 30 for 2030 sounded nice, but if it's 28% or 26% then then that's fine. That's not a not a big deal.
We can figure out the correct number. What we're concerned with is that we have a good way to measure the progress and to understand what the different departments are doing. In that view, I think a very important aspect of this bill is that it requires a corrective action report, not just from uh but from all of the departments if they do not meet the goal. And we think this is really critical. Um in the previous three hearings for this bill, members of all of those committees asked for a plan from the Department of Education and are still waiting for that plan. So I think that this very important aspect of the bill really helps us to get an idea of what is going on, what the challenges are for the department and how we can support the department in reaching these challenges because ultimately we all have the same goal.
Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure, please come forward either online or in person. Okay, members, any questions? Senator Richards, Department. Thanks, Morris. Um, question I have is I completely agree with the intent. I am sensitive to what DOE is talking about and I appreciate the little bit of latitude. My concern is if we're going to be able to get enough farmers approved for food safety to actually get this thing rolling and I think that's something that we're going to have to figure out how to get that done. Um comments on that one, Morris, please. totally agree that um part of the the the complexity of achieving these goals um you know fall on the on the supply side of of this whole setup and there is concern about whether or not we can get uh the the the smaller farmers you know up to speed on the uh certifications that may be needed by these larger institutions.
um uh it's uh it's a very complex you know supply and demand uh situation with um aggregators and um and food distributors involved in in uh getting the food from the producers to the various institutions. So we do know that um there is a concern whether or not we do good but there are measures and efforts currently happening to try and trying to implement that uh capability of um training and getting you know GAP certification and and food safety training out there. um um and it's a collaborative effort with uh and and um our department and uh the industry. So the concern is definitely there. I and I'm not sure how to answer your question in terms of how to fix it but I do know the efforts are you know happening. So this question, do we have enough resources in department of a right now to administer and help bring these programs up?
I would say we definitely could use uh you know quite a bit more. Our food safety program uh in our you know quality assurance division is is the section that handles that and we are definitely um in need of additional staffing. But but uh we do have um you know our um our quad program that is working on that and I I I would say if you were to ask me you know what my personal opinion is I you know I would say I think we're understaffed but um I am asking you that I also want a number Morris give me an idea um and you may not have it right now but I think we as we're standing up agriculture to do this. There's an initiative for locally raised food, right? Fully supported. No supports it more than I do, but we also have to be mindful that we have to support what that's going to take.
So, um I do want your personal opinion, but I also need a number attached to that and may not be here. I like the concept, but um that's what I have. Thanks, chair. Yeah, I I would have to go back to staff and get uh numbers for you, but definitely get that to me. if we could get that and then commute it to all three committees I think is on this. Oh, definitely. Thank you. Hi. Um I'm also very supportive of our farmers and supportive of growing our own and being able to feed our people, but looking at these numbers and in your capacity and understanding the farmers and the amount of land that we have, is that is these percentages and dates realistic? Could you repeat the the latter part of that? I didn't quite based on you know you have an idea of our farmers amount of land that we have for agriculture and the kinds of products that we can produce are these numbers realistic the date and the percentages are those realistic I I'm not sure how to answer that but I I because you know we have a struggle with you know uh the amount of um when we're talking about numbers, we're talking about numbers of farmers, farming operations in terms of active producers and and volume and quantity to meet these thresholds that we're talking about.
I I think it's challenging because our our numbers include um questions of agriculture that don't include food production and they they form significant you know uh questions of that of our of our department of a uh production numbers. So, I'm not sure because you we have to consider, you know, the nurseries. Um, well, that's what I'm asking. You know, based on everything that you're aware of um and then we don't even know what mother nature is going to do, how realistic are, you know, I'm all for setting goals, but you know, you can't set them to the point where then they're going to be busy always trying to figure out how are they going to correct action if they don't meet these numbers. Now these numbers are put together by Hawaii Apple Seed Center or is this a collaborative number or do you know how the percentages were were I'm not sure where the numbers came from.
Um I I do know that um in our I guess and and I don't have exact numbers to to give you that could you know um I guess substantiate what what I'm saying but but if you're writing in support with comments I mean I would think that you have some more. The numbers come from Hawaii Apple City. It's part of their testimony, right? But that's what's in the bill, right? Those numbers, those percentages. Is that right? It's from Yeah, it's in the bill. And they used the they used the bill and put together this um graph so we can see it visually. So, I'm not sure who who actually came up with these numbers. If anybody knows based on what I would love to hear from them up the actual numbers but um I do you know believe it's it is going to be challenging um based on our you know the makeup of our who the producers are and the volume that they produce and how much of it actual food that can go into you know the the school systems or or the larger institutions that would utilizing this.
Is there anyone here from your university can speak on this me? Um I'm surprised them being, you know, a major someone that has to abide by this. They're not here to even offer testimony. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Do So you guys have opposed this bill. Yeah. Um so if you guys don't have the consistency or the um amount of produce, you know, based on weather related issues, um pest, disease, what you guys going to feed the kids? If we didn't have to do federal compliance, we could feed them something nutritious, right? So, we balance what is available to prepare the menus, which we are trying to get regionalized, but there are certain requirements that we have to comply with um to provide a meal and get reimbursed otherwise jeopardize the reimbursement process, which is about 40 45% of our total cost. So, so how much locally sourced produce do you have today or beef?
It's not nearly 30%, the last re was about 6.2% in in in general, but as a flip side, I'm told by food ser food services that 100% of the ground beef hamburger is sourced locally. So, it depends by by product. We are working as Tanaka is working very closely with producer on Maui, Mahip Pono, to see if they can provide that scale, but that'll take some time. But there are plans in in works working with some of these farmers producers to produce the kind of violent that would be needed. So do you guys know that the bulk of the farmers and ranchers in Mali have been impacted by access here? Yes. So, if you have 50,000 pounds of produce or beef here and that 50,000 pounds have been taken out of your supply that you guys have commitment to, I guess my question goes back to how what do you guys feed them?
That that always puts everybody at the point that I don't think you guys will be holding this much reserves. Right. For example, we just had an incident several months ago where lettuce was damaged and and could not be provided and we're stuck with 100,000 pounds of lettuce that we got to we got to get someplace and and so but the the supplier could not produce that. So food services had to make that adjustment. So were you guys part of putting any of these numbers together or not to my knowledge. Thank you. Thank you chair. Thank you. Um Kurt, I guess, um my dilemma is I totally support the idea, but to ask the biggest restaurant in the state of Hawaii that feeds I don't know how many thousands of kids, hundred thousand. Yeah. Daily, five days a week. And even breakfast. Yeah. Breakfast and lunch.
Um I don't know how you could do that in seven years. Um I don't know if you have to have the same menu for all all uh islands or even districts. So those are some of the things I think that we would like to know and um given some idea of if this bill were what you had to do what is the earliest that you guys could start to do this and it could be rolling out by islands or whatever. Okay. But I do know not every island has the same crops um or or the cattle or you know beef and pigs whatever. So I think um for myself my recommendation is going to be to defer because this is such a a big issue and I don't think we've given you the the proper amount of time. However, I think you guys need to start thinking about this because it is to help not just our local farmers, but getting the fresh fruits and vegetables to our students is also important.
You're absolutely right. And I have spoken to the superintendent about engaging with um private sector people, large produce companies who have experience uh because they also want to buy local, but they also have the same challenges as a buyer, a wholesaler. And so this is a absolutely a problem or a challenge I think not a problem it's a challenge that the state needs to come together to to work with the industry and find those solutions not just for certified farmers but for the capacity and backup really that's what we're after as quite said you know we're going to be stuck if we don't have the backup and the commitment because we can't go up what we going to tell the farmers well you know I think most people realize that being an island state, we're stuck in the middle of the Pacific and we can't ask the trucks to all their produce across the state line.
So, um or even depend on getting uh flights to to bring it in on short notice. So, so this is a a dilemma and I believe the Senate has vision for food hubs for food zones to to provide that back backbone for the industry to rely on government. So the partnership between government and the farming industry to subsidize that so we can make it more affordable for them to produce. Yes. Knowing that I think you guys to work on some um timelines for us. All right. Because while I I'm probably I am going to defer this bill. I'm not it's going to come back. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. I guess there was some testimony that said that we haven't filled the school position. What what's been the what's been the difficulty of filling the position or is that just a position you don't need?
Uh it's a position that's necessary working with um assistant superintendent Tanakaco. We believe that what we we're looking at the needs as to how to be more effective to the industry and what what has been discussed and decided is that we actually want a food buyer uh someone who can reach out to the industry. Um as Tanaka can serve is that we only have one position. We got to make the best use of it. So decisions made that rather than fill it with an administrator to fill it with someone that can get out in the field uh and talk to the the farmers and the buyers. So we want to re probably re redescribe it if if that's what you want to call it um and use that position more wisely. I don't we don't think we need an administrator right now. Eventually we will um but Senator I think what we need are boots on the ground to talk to the industry people.
All right. So what have you done so far? Anything? we uh department well Mr. Asanaka has discussed that with me so we we just need to redescribe it we're late in doing that we need to get on that and again talking to industry professionals private sector to help us get there okay [Music] Nice. [Music] Look. These are the numbers, right? Here's the exemption of benchmark. I just want to get clarification. But in the bill anyway, just check it out. Okay. [Music] So, um, it are we still on it? Yes, chair. We're still on. Okay. All right. The chairs have conferred and we could not reach agreement. So, the bill will be deferred now. And I'd like to make a request in the meantime because as um Senator Kedani said, Chair Kadani said that this measure will come back and so we'd like to know what um rationale and how was the numbers and the percentages arrived at because certainly we want to be able to have um goals, but we also want to be able to hopefully uh be able to strive to achieve them.
If they're so far off, then it's not going to help us or the farmers. So certainly need to know what went into the percentage. So whoever it bill, this is from the house, whoever put these numbers together would certainly like to get some kind of um information back. Okay. Thank you very much. And let's journ the joint. Afternoon. We're reconvening the committee on education, the 3:00 agenda. And our first bill is House Bill 260 HD1 relating to education. requires the DOE to develop and implement safety training for all cafeteria student helpers and ensure the student helpers receive the training prior to them volunteering. Requires DOE to provide personal protective equipment for all cafeteria student helpers. Prior to the student helpers volunteering requires all cafeteria student helpers to be directed and supervised supervised by trained personnel at all times. and to testify. Superintendent Hayashi. Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, members.