Program areas at Hawaii Agricultural Foundation
Educational programs to reach out to Hawaii's youth in the classrooms and schools to educate them about farming operations and careers, and to create an appreciation for the Agricultural industry at an early age. This could involve in-classroom workshops, farm excursions, and the development of educational materials. 2022 - 2023 school year: 6,000+ students at 115 public/charter schools, including 200+ participating teachers.
Outreach/public awareness programs involve educating the general public or key sectors thereof about the importance of supporting agriculture in Hawaii and the benefits that the Agricultural industry provides to our state. This includes outreach activities and events such as the farm fair, farmers' markets, and Hawaii food & wine festival-showcasing farm products, promoting the importance of locally-grown food/food security and sustainability.
Farmer assistance programs will provide direct, on-the-ground support to Hawaii's farmers by providing access to farming opportunities, technical information and assistance, workshops/seminars on business matters (financing, loans, insurance, etc. ), and market development and branding, so as to support the viability and sustainability of farming in Hawaii.