Resources
Hawai‘i Island Mediation Program
Hawai‘i Island Mediation Program (HIAMP) is a non-profit organization that provides free mediation services to the agricultural community on farm loans, credit issues, compliance with USDA programs, and many other issues. Mediation is an informal way of using a neutral party to help resolve disputes and solve problems. Email info@emcenter.org for more information.
Pricing Produce and Products for Fair Profit Based on Cost of Production
Farmers’ concerns about being left with an unsold perishable harvest have existed since the first crops were sold thousands of years ago. Too often growers find themselves influenced by rumor, innuendo, and fear when it comes to pricing the crops they grow or the products they produce. Buyers may take advantage of that fear and offer to buy crops at greatly reduced prices, and farmers’ fear may prompt those sales. How can growers become self-sustaining? This paper offers solutions to increase small farm economic sustainability, especially in terms of farmers markets and sales of value-added products.
GoFarm Hawai‘i Program
The objective of the GoFarm Hawai‘i Program is to enhance Hawai‘i’s food security and economy by increasing the number of local agricultural producers by offering those with an interest in agriculture a combination of knowledge, experience, and support designed to assist them in becoming viable production growers, and accomplish this in a manner that encourages sustainability.
On-Farm Food Safety Project
Need Help Creating a Food Safety Plan? The On-Farm Food Safety Project (OFFS) is a comprehensive national program that offers fruit and vegetable farmers, food safety professionals and agricultural extension specialists technical assistance to utilize and teach best practices in food safety. This website includes the bulk of these resources including a free online tool, based on a comprehensive risk based framework, which generates customized on-farm food safety plans based on user input. The tool is designed for use by small to mid-scale fruit and vegetable growers and provides a full set of record keeping tools to document their food safety program and to provide training to their employees.
Hawai‘i County Food Self-Sufficiency Baseline Study 2012
This study presents the results of a new Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping effort that has digitized the agricultural activity currently occurring on Hawai‘i Island. This data provides a 2012 snapshot of where, and what kind of, farming is occurring on Hawai‘i Island and can serve as a baseline to monitor future trends in agriculture land use. This mapping effort also helps emphasize the variability of agricultural activities that occur island wide and the regional differences that underlie existing farm activities. Each region of the island is mapped and described separately in an effort to depict not just where farming occurs but why.
Hawai‘i Agribusiness Guidebook (PDF, 1.64 MB)
Published by College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Adding Value to Locally Grown Crops in Hawai‘i: A Guide for Small Farm Enterprise Innovation (PDF, 4.15 MB)
Because of the high cost of labor, land, and materials in Hawai‘i, family farms are only economically sustainable if they can produce high-quality products that are valued above cheap imports. This Guide helps growers add value to all aspects of their farm enterprise and offers resources for further developing their strategies.
Hawai‘i Island Farmer’s Guide to Accessing Local Markets (PDF, 4.6 MB)
Produced as a joint publication by the Hamakua-based Center for Agricultural Success, Hawai‘i Community College, and Permanent Agriculture Resources, this remarkable summary of local Hawai‘i Island markets is full of useful insights and guidance from both seasoned farmers and local distributors. A recommended read for every aspiring farmer in the state of Hawai‘i.
The Laulima Center Web site Resources page
The Laulima Center supports the development of cooperative businesses with technical assistance throughout the state of Hawai‘i.
O‘ahu Agritourism Guidebook
An introductory guide from the O‘ahu Resource Conservation and Development Council for those interested in agritourism on O‘ahu. Ideal for farmers, ranchers, floriculturists, and other agricultural producers interested in learning more about agritourism.
News and resources from University of California, Berkeley College of Natural Resources