City secures $500,000 grant to strengthen market opportunities for local farmers and producers

Farmer in Waimānalo passes freshly grown ʻōlena to a community member.

HONOLULU — The City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency has been awarded $499,024 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) to help connect Oʻahu farmers and food producers with major buyers, creating new opportunities to keep more food grown, purchased, and consumed on Oʻahu.

The three-year initiative will help local farmers and food businesses better access large-scale buyers such as hotels, restaurants, and other institutions that serve thousands of people every day. By making it easier for local producers to compete for these contracts, the project aims to increase the amount of Hawaiʻi-grown food on Oʻahu plates while supporting local jobs and agricultural businesses. Through this grant, the City aims to accelerate $1 million in new or expanded local food procurement, improve procurement systems for 10-15 institutions, and directly support more than 50 producers.

“Strengthening our local food system is essential to creating new opportunities for agricultural businesses to grow while keeping more food dollars in our local economy,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “This investment will help connect our local farmers and food producers with major institutional buyers. We appreciate the USDA’s partnership with the City on this important effort and the contributions of our community partners in advancing a stronger local food economy.”

A Critical Time for Oʻahu Residents

The grant comes at a critical time for Hawaiʻi because the state remains one of the most food-import-dependent regions in the U.S., importing 85–90% of its food supply. These risks were underscored during the 2026 Kona Low storms, which led to a federal disaster declaration and caused widespread agricultural losses. Agricultural Stewardship Hawai‘i estimated impacts range from $40 million across more than 600 farms to $50 million affecting about 2,000 farms statewide, including approximately $26 million in losses on O‘ahu alone.

For residents, these projects are about more than agriculture. A stronger local food economy can:

• Increase access to fresher Hawaiʻi-grown food.

• Support local farmers, growers, producers, and ranchers facing rising operating costs.

• Reduce reliance on imported food during emergencies and supply disruptions.

• Keep food spending circulating within Hawaiʻi’s economy.

• Strengthen Oʻahu’s long-term food security and climate resilience.

Tourism also plays a major role. Oʻahu welcomes millions of visitors annually, creating a significant opportunity for local producers to supply hotels, restaurants, and hospitality operators with island-grown products. The project will help ensure more of that economic activity benefits local farmers and food entrepreneurs.

Building New Connections Between Farmers and Buyers

Over the next three years, the City and its community partners will invest an additional $432,551 in matching contributions.

Key project activities will include:

• Assessing purchasing opportunities across Oʻahu institutions.

• Helping producers prepare for larger commercial markets.

• Developing practical toolkits for buyers and farmers.

• Hosting events that connect producers directly with institutional purchasers.

• Providing mentorship and technical assistance for farmers.

• Supporting producers seeking food safety certifications required by many large buyers.

• Piloting data tools that make it easier for institutions to source Hawaiʻi-grown products.

The effort seeks to create a scalable model that could expand local purchasing across multiple sectors of Oʻahu’s economy.

“[The Local Food Promotion Program] advances USDA’s commitment to putting farmers first by helping producers develop new markets for their products, strengthen local and regional supply chains, and increase economic opportunities in agricultural communities across the country,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins in a public release issued by the USDA. “By supporting innovative partnerships and market development projects, these investments help farmers grow their businesses, create jobs, and ensure that more food dollars stay in the communities where they are produced.”

A Step Toward a More Resilient Oʻahu

The project aligns with broader City efforts, including the newly released Oʻahu Food Systems Action Plan to improve food resilience, support local agriculture, and create economic opportunities that benefit communities across the island. By strengthening connections among farms, businesses, and consumers, the initiative aims to build a more self-reliant Oʻahu, better prepared for future economic and environmental challenges.

The City will partner with community-based organizations selected through a competitive process to help implement the project.

The City will partner with community-based organizations identified in the USDA application via a competitive process. To learn more about the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency and its food systems work, visit resilientoahu.org.

Stay connected with the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency online and by subscribing to the newsletter:
Facebook: @ResilientOahu
Instagram: @ResilientOahu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/resilientoahu

Website:resilientoahu.org

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