The following reflect some articles and resources offering ideas on how farmers can take care of themselves, their farms, and their local communities.
General Resources
Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Guidebook : A wealth of brief business articles for Hawaiʻi’s agricultural producers
Hawaiʻi Agricultural Education Opportunities: Information about other agricultural education opportunities/internships
Updated Guide to Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities: A listing of USDA programs that can help farmers achieve their goals
Resources for Farmers and Value Added Producers: A listing of many resources helpful to agricultural business, production, and value-added agriculture
Veteran Resources: Hoʻola Farms
Finance and Business
Oʻahu Agriculture and Conservation Association Grants and Loans Page
Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Guidebook: A wealth of brief business articles for Hawaiʻi’s agricultural producers. Information on acquiring grant support and some typical grants for beginning farmers can be found HERE.
Marketing and Sales
Farmers transitioning to direct sales who need assistance in managing payment options can look to these Mobile Point of Sale/Product Purchasing Platforms
- https://venmo.com/
- https://squareup.com/us/en
- https://www.paypal.com/us/home
- https://www.farmigo.com/
Online Sales Platforms: What You Need to Know
Oregon Tilth presented a webinar about online sales platforms for direct-to-consumer sales. Hear from representatives from four online food sales platforms and see the list of common questions when considering online sales.
List of Online Sales Platforms and Pricing
Trying to sift through the many different options for online sales? This list assembled by the National Young Farmers Coalition provides links, features and pricing for 14 platforms for farmers.
Selling/Moving Your Product
Hawaiʻi Dept. of Ag Food Producer list
Hoʻola Farm (Hawaiʻi Island) took over Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car Market: a drive thru farmers’ market, which allows consumers to order their fresh produce and products online and pick up curbside at a scheduled location. Find more info here: Farm-to-Car
Pop-Up Mākeke (Re-launch October 1 – December 31, 2020)
Produce donations: If you have extra produce that can be harvested and either dropped off or arrange a pick up for, please contact the below:
- Oʻahu: Aloha Harvest (808) 537-6945 or info@alohaharvest.org
- Kauaʻi: Village Harvest Gleaning Program. (808) 828-0685 x14 or villageharvest@malamakauai.org
Foodland is interested in purchasing locally grown produce and products (such as meats, eggs, and dairy) from farms of all sizes on all islands. Foodland needs information on what products are available immediately. Regardless of the size of the farm or how much product is available, all farmers are requested to complete this form if interested in selling to Foodland.
Kauaʻi Food System Resources: Find out where to buy Kauaʻi local food, get emergency food assistance, and start your own garden!
Keep Food Safe at Farmers Markets: Do’s and Don’ts to consider when setting up your Farmer’s Market Stand
Land Opportunity and Access
Hawai‘i farm lease template: a resource for landowners and farmers
*NOTE: This template is an educational tool and is intended to be used as a starting point to develop an agreement. Please consult with your advisors and attorney.
Land Lease Options for Farmers in Hawaiʻi
Do you have access to an available plot of land and want to lease to one of our alumni? Please fill out an informational form by following this link: Land Opportunities.
Emergency Protocol and Covid 19 Kit
The USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide direct relief to farmers/ranchers directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Information can be found here: www.farmers.gov/cfap
The Hawaiʻi Board of Agriculture approved the Emergency Agricultural Loan program for agribusinesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency:
http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr2-04emergency-loan-program-approved/
American Farmland Trust has launched a Farmer Relief Fund awarding qualified farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000. (CURRENTLY CLOSED AND AWAITING ADDITIONAL DONATIONS)
USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses, and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (Updated March 20)
The City and County of Honolulu launched the Small Business Relief and Recovery Fund with the purpose of reimbursing small businesses for costs incurred from business interruption due to Emergency Proclamations and to help small businesses implement safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
USDA Farm Service Agency has made changes to farm loan, disaster, conservation and safety net programs to make it easier for customers to conduct business. This includes relaxing the farm loan-making process, servicing direct loans, and servicing guaranteed loans. Click here for more information.
The Oʻahu Agriculture and Conservation Association created a new OACA grant and loan page providing up-to-date financial resource information, links to partners, and more.
Additional Resources/Articles
GoFarm Hawaiʻi Field Site Protocols (SAMPLE)
Reminders for Farmers from the UHM-CTAHR Farm Food Safety Team Regarding COVID-19
Updated resource guide for Hawaiʻi’s Agriculture Industry from Senator Hirono
Corona Virus Food Assistance Program Fact Sheets (Eng/Spanish), Stakeholder toolkits and Posters
ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program has one of the best lists for all things COVID-19 related that farmers and ranchers might find useful.
Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act
Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau Covid-19 Update
USDA has a page with information related to the new coronavirus and current status of USDA Service Centers, online options for conducting business, and updates to USDA programs and services in response to COVID-19.
You, COVID19, and your farm business
Young Farmers Covid-19 Response
Building Farm Resilience During COVID-19
Cornell Small Farms – A suite of more than 20 online courses help farmers improve their technical and business skills. These courses cover a range of topics, from mushroom growing to financial planning, to anything in between that a farmer needs to succeed.
Coronavirus: no evidence that food is a source or transmission route