S.B. 1251 Summary

• Requires the Department of Education to work with the Department of Agriculture to achieve 15% locally sourced food in public school meals by 2025 and 30% by 2030, measured by percentage of total food cost.

• Mandates the Department of Education submit an annual report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before each regular session detailing locally sourced food percentages, program costs and savings, vendor lists, meal menus, fresh versus processed food ratios, cafeteria staff training, and distributor purchase percentages.

• Establishes the Hawaii Farm to School Program within the Department of Agriculture with a coordinator to improve student health, develop agricultural workforce, expand local food procurement, accelerate farm-based education, and strengthen relationships between schools and agricultural communities.

• Defines "locally sourced products" as fresh local agricultural products (100% grown or raised in Hawaii) or local value-added products (at least 51% primary agricultural product grown in Hawaii), including fruits, vegetables, livestock, dairy, aquaculture, and horticultural products.