HB505 Summary

• Establishes an Agricultural Development and Food Security Program within the Department of Agriculture to improve food security and self-sufficiency in Hawaii.

• Amends state planning objectives to include increased demand for and access to locally grown foods through marketing campaigns, branding programs, consumer education, and public institution purchasing.

• Adds objectives to increase local food production by building agricultural workforce capacity, supporting agricultural parks, maintaining irrigation systems, and improving agricultural infrastructure including food hub facilities.

• Makes multiple appropriations for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 for promotional materials, branding programs, farmers' market publicity, farm-to-school pilot programs, farm food safety certification, and agricultural infrastructure planning.

• Authorizes additional appropriations to restore Department of Agriculture positions in food inspection, pest control, biosecurity, market research, and agricultural statistics.