Bill would require 10% of Hawaii-bought produce to be local
April 24, 2021 GMT
HONOLULU (AP) — A bill in Hawaii that would require at least 10% of state-bought produce to be local has passed both the state House and Senate.
The bill introduced by Democratic state Rep. Scot Matayoshi will now head to Gov. David Ige’s desk for approval, KHON-TV reported Friday.
The measure aims to ensure that state funds directly support local businesses.
“If our state is truly committed to reviving our agricultural industry and diversifying our economy, we need to put our money where our mouth is. That starts with supporting local farmers and weaning our state away from our dependence on tourism,” Matayoshi said.