Honolulu City Council member calls for more local produce at farmers’ markets

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HONOLULU (KHON2) – A Honolulu City Council member wants to ensure more local products are sold at the People’s Open Market.

On Thursday the 17th

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The City’s Parks and Recreation Director will testify at the City Council’s Park and Community Services Committee meeting, which introduced a resolution obliging all sellers to offer at least 30% locally grown produce by 2025 and that minimum to 60% by 2028 to increase.

Honolulu City Council member Radiant Cordero presented the resolution. The People’s Open Market gives communities across the island access to fresh produce, and she said the resolution would help meet the city’s sustainability goals and help local farmers stay afloat.

“I think the 30% by 2025 for our open market to people is really fair,” said Cordero. “And I hope that we will also receive data from our providers, but especially from our department for parks and recreation, so that we can pursue our goals.”

A spokesman for Parks and Leisure said director Laura Thielen will provide information about the farmers and sellers who will be attending the market.

“There is a lot of food out there and I just want to make sure we support our local farmers by really putting that into our rules,” said Cordero.

Meanwhile, Brian Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, has expressed his support.

“By charging 30% and three years later 60%, it will re-motivate and spur our smallholders to keep landing,” said Miyamoto. “You have this new market that will help us in our food security goal.”

The Park and Community Services Committee meeting will take place on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

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