Increasing Production and Promoting Lilikoi Fruit Products
Kahuku Farms received $207,000 from USDA-Rural Development’s Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) to increase production of their lilikoi butter and lilikoi jelly and to also create new products of lilikoi balsamic dressing and lilikoi seasonings.
Wahiawa Agribusiness Infrastructure Support
Wahiawa Community Block Development Organization (WCBDO) received $250K from the City & County of Honolulu’s Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) to purchase property in Wahiawa to support the the recently purchased 1,400 agricultural lands by Hawaii Department of Agriculture. This project is part of the Whitmore Village Agriculture Revitalization Plan 
Establishing a Breadfruit (Ulu) Orchard Incubator
Miliani Ag Park (MAP) received $48,000 from Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s (HDOA) Specialty Crop Block Grant to partner with the University of Hawaii (UH) to plant 10 acres of breadfruit and to create a user’s manual so that other growers throughout the State can plan breadfruit as well. The project will also include a field day for visitors to see how breadfruit is grown. Click here for report and Breadfruit Production Manual.
Producing and Marketing Fresh Island Cheeses in Hawaii
With $140,000 in funding from USDA-Rural Development’s Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and $50,000 from the Patrick McCarthy Foundation, Naked Cow Dairy is set to become the first dairy in Hawaii to produce artisian cheeses. Located in Waianae on the island of Oahu, Naked Cow Dairy is the only remaining dairy on the island and the only cow cheese operation in the State. The dairy currently produces butter, cream cheese, feta cheese and with this project, plans to expand into making cheddar, swiss, havarti, gouda, mozzarella, and curd cheeses.
Completion of Commercial Kitchen and Washing Facility for TwinBridge Farms
With $42,900 in funding from USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG), the non-profit Sustain Hawaii was able to support TwinBridge Farms in completing their commercial kitchen and washing facility. The kitchen is designed to utilize the farm’s off grade produce to create value added products. Twin Bridge Farms, a 300-acre operation in Waialua on the island of Oahu is the largest producer of asparagus in Hawaii. With this project, they will be making pureed asparagus, prepping sweet potatoes for Shochou, and pickling vegetables.
Using Aquaponics with Renewable Energy Resources to create Sustainable Food Systems while Reducing Nutrient, Energy, and Water Costs
By utilizing funds from Western SARE’s Profressional + Producer grant, this project combined aquaponics experts from University of Hawaii with five farmers on Oahu. Each producer incorporated aquaponics into their farm using different approaches based on the producer’s goals. Projects included using alternative energy such as solar and wind to power the system as well as adding aquaponics to an existing soil based farm to grow watercress. A how-to guidebook including a video documentary will also be created with this project.
Promoting Hawaii Specialty Crops at Haleiwa Farmers` Market
Through funding from Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s/USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant and the City & County of Honolulu’s/Hawaii Tourism Authority’s County Product Enrichment Program (CPEP), Haleiwa Farmers` Market conducted a total of six festivals featuring Hawaii’s crops including taro, herbs, tropical flowers, tropical fruits, cacao, and tomatoes. Festivals included tastings, workshops, entertainment, and farm visits.
Developing Kahuku Farms’ Ag Tourism Venture:
With funding from USDA-Rural Development’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG), Kahuku Farms has been able to complete the conversion of 5 acres of their property into a touring area that demonstrates different crops grown on the farm and in Hawaii including tropical fruit, citrus and spice trees, vanilla, cacao, tropical flowers, pineapple, and sugarcane. Located in the middle of the tour park, is an enclosed Country Store where tourists and locals can purchase value-added products from the farm including “Lilikoi Butter”, dehydrated bananas and ready to eat meals all made with products from the farm. Items purchased from the grant included a POS cash register System, cooking equipment, fence, refrigerator, freezer, custom signs, menus, kitchen supplies, stove, and supplies for an ADA Ramp, landscaping materials and supplies.
