[§302A-405.5]  Hawaii farm to school program; farm to school coordinator.  (a)  There is established within the department a Hawaii farm to school program.  The purpose of the farm to school program shall be to:

     (1)  Improve student health;

     (2)  Develop an educated agricultural workforce;

     (3)  Enrich the local food system through the support and increase of local food procurement for the State's public schools;

     (4)  Accelerate garden and farm-based education for the State's public school students; and

     (5)  Expand the relationships between public schools and agricultural communities.

     (b)  The Hawaii farm to school program shall be headed by a farm to school coordinator who shall work in collaboration with the appropriate stakeholders to address the issues of supply, demand, procurement, and consumption of Hawaii-grown foods in state facilities, primarily education facilities, and take reasonable steps to incorporate more agriculture and nutrition education in schools. [L 2021, c 175, pt of §2]