Kahele, Case introduce cacao, floriculture bills
U.S. Reps. Kai Kahele and Ed Case, both D-Hawaii, introduced Thursday a pair of measures to help protect the domestic floriculture, nursery and cacao industries.
House Resolution 7812 would amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish a floriculture and nursery plant health initiative. HR 7813 would do the same for the cacao industry.
“Diversifying Hawaiʻi’s economy starts with protecting our existing agricultural commodities and opening the door to new competitive goods,” Kahele said. “Distinctive Hawaiʻi floral and nursery characteristics, in turn, will help our island growers build wealth and command premium prices in markets throughout the United States.