Tag Archives: Hawaii Farmers

Government, Schools

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Also Helps Farmers

The Packer recently wrote about the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act:

Child nutrition bill is a ‘historic win’

Published on 12/02/2010 06:41PM

Legislation that seeks to transform school meals in large part by adding more fruits and vegetables has passed Congress.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act reauthorizes federal child nutrition programs. The Senate passed the bill in August and the House approved it Dec. 2 by a margin 264 to 157.

The bill was sent to President Obama for his signature, the first major legislation to clear the lame duck session of Congress.

The act increases federal reimbursement for school lunches by six cents per meal, the first increase in more than 30 years. The addition is tied to increased servings of food consistent with dietary guidelines, including fruits and vegetables. Read more

In addition to being good for our nation’s school kids, this Act will help Hawai‘i’s farmers sell produce to Hawai‘i’s school system.

This is something concrete that will help farmers make money. And, as we know: If the farmers make money, farmers will farm.

Current Affairs, Food Security, Government

Farmers Not In Favor of Pasha Entering Inter-Island Barge Service

1 Comment

From the Star-Advertiser article:

Pasha gets PUC approval for interisland shipping
By Star-Advertiser staff

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 21, 2010

The Public Utilities Commission has authorized Pasha [Hawaii Transport Lines LLC] to operate between Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Nawiliwili, Barbers Point and Pearl Harbor through Dec. 31, 2013. The commission will then evaluate the effects of the service and make a final decision on the company’s request to operate in the market permanently.

Young Bros. argued that Pasha will only serve the biggest ports and the most lucrative lines such as autos, heavy equipment and construction materials. Young Bros. also said that Pasha will “cherry-pick” the most lucrative routes and could harm local farmers and cattle ranchers who receive discounts subsidized by higher rates on other goods…. Read more

I think that allowing Pasha to operate in the inter-island barge service, without forcing them to provide the same services that Young Brothers provides, will jeopardize Hawai‘i’s food security.

Young Brothers gives locally grown products a 30 percent discount. They are not forced to do it; they worked with farmers to come up with that rate. And Young Brothers services the ports at Moloka‘i, as well as Lana‘i. Pasha will not be servicing those ports, nor moving agricultural products.

Farmers know that food security involves farmers farming. And that if farmers make money, farmers will farm. Young Brothers helps farmers to make money.

It is clear to us that if Young Brothers’ profitability is at stake, they will be forced to rethink the farmers’ discount. That is not good for farmers.

Farmers are not in favor of allowing Pasha to unfairly compete with Young Brothers.