THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	106
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislature detailing farm-to-school implementation, local food procurement, regional kitchen alignment, and federal farm-to-school grant participation.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's regional kitchen investments, institutional procurement goals, and ongoing regional agricultural feasibility studies represent a significant public investment intended to expand local food production and reduce the State's dependence on imported food; and

 

     WHEREAS, the success of these efforts requires alignment between institutional buyers and upstream producers so that procurement-driven demand is matched by production capacity, acreage expansion, processing readiness, and participation by local farmers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education is the State's largest institutional food purchaser and plays a central role in advancing farm-to-school programs, local procurement targets, and the effective use of regional kitchen infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, modular and distributed regional kitchen infrastructure--including mobile units, small-scale processing hubs, and shared-use facilities--combined with transparent procurement reporting and multi-year purchasing frameworks can help address neighbor island realities, reduce risks for farmers, and strengthen local supply chains; and

 

     WHEREAS, a report by the Department of Education documenting current procurement conditions and operational constraints, and providing an actionable implementation plan would help support coordinated statewide efforts, strengthen local food security, and expand participation by small- and mid‑sized farms in institutional markets; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report to the Legislature detailing the Department's implementation of the farm-to-school education and food procurement program, local food procurement, and alignment with Hawaii's regional kitchen investments and regional agricultural feasibility efforts; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to include in the report the following information:

 

     (1)  Baseline local procurement and progress metrics, including:

 

          (A)  A summary of the Department of Education's current local food procurement levels, including available baseline data and trends over time; and

 

          (B)  Where feasible, a breakdown by complex area, island, or region, and by major product categories (e.g., produce, protein, value-added items);

 

     (2)  An assessment of regional kitchen alignment and operational readiness, including:

 

          (A)  How the Department's procurement operations and meal service plans align with the State's regional kitchen model, including any anticipated use of modular or distributed infrastructure such as mobile units, shared-use processing hubs, or aggregation points; and

 

          (B)  Key operational requirements necessary for utilizing regional kitchens, such as product specifications, packaging, minimum volumes, delivery frequency, food safety, and processing standards;

 

     (3)  The recommended procurement and contracting structure, including:

 

          (A)  A description of current contracting methods, vendor arrangements, and procurement policies that affect local purchasing; and

 

          (B)  The identification of barriers and recommended administrative or statutory changes that would enable expanded participation by local producers, including small- and mid-sized farms;

 

     (4)  The status of the farm-to-school education and food procurement program implementation, including:

 

          (A)  A summary of existing farm-to-school activities and partnerships; and

 

          (B)  A discussion of any current constraints affecting expansion--for example, staffing, procurement processes, supply reliability, food safety compliance, processing or aggregation limitations, or transportation;

 

     (5)  An assessment of federal funding participation and United States Department of Agriculture farm-to-school grant planning, including:

 

          (A)  A description of the Department of Education's participation in the United States Department of Agriculture farm-to-school grant program during the prior grant cycle, including whether the Department of Education applied or served as a partner;

 

          (B)  If the Department of Education did not participate, an explanation any barriers to participation and what would be required for the Department of Education to participate in the next cycle; and

 

          (C)  A forward plan describing the Department of Education's intended approach for future grant participation and the internal processes and timeline for approval, including coordination with partner agencies or applicants; and

 

     (6)  An action plan, timeline, and list of resource needs, including:

 

          (A)  A near-term (up to one year) and mid-term (one to three years) plan for increasing local procurement and strengthening farm-to-school implementation in coordination with regional kitchen investments; and

 

          (B)  A list of any staffing, technical assistance, systems modernization, or funding needed to execute the plan, including recommendations for coordination among state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Agribusiness Development Corporation; and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the Department of Education, in preparing the report, to consult with relevant state agencies and stakeholders involved in institutional procurement, regional kitchen planning, and regional agricultural feasibility efforts to ensure that the report reflects island-specific realities and offers flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature believes that a clear report and implementation plan from the Department of Education will help strengthen alignment between institutional demand and upstream production readiness, maximize the impact of public investment in regional kitchens, support equitable participation by small- and mid-sized farms, and accelerate progress toward improved food security and resilient neighbor island economies; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit its report, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chairperson of the Board of Education; Superintendent of Education; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

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