Farm To Families is a win for Hawai‘i’s farmers and families

Hawai‘i is at a crossroads. Despite our deep agricultural roots and capacity to grow food, we import nearly 90% of what we eat.

At the same time, 1 in 3 households in our state struggle with food insecurity. This stark contradiction demands action — one that Senate Bill 1250 and House Bill 428, the Farm to Families Program — aims to address.

For decades, food banks across Hawai‘i have been a vital safety net for families in need. At Maui Food Bank, we distribute food to families and individuals across Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i through direct service programs and a network of 170 agency partners.

Last year alone, we served nearly 45,000 people each month, distributing 8.7 million pounds of food, including 2.3 million pounds of fresh produce. But despite our best efforts, the demand for nutritious, local food continues to outpace supply.

That’s why we need the Hawai‘i Farm to Families Program. This measure is a win-win for both local farmers and families experiencing food insecurity. It provides much-needed funding for food banks and distribution organizations to purchase fresh, locally grown produce directly from Hawai‘i’s farmers and ranchers — strengthening our agricultural economy while ensuring that families in need receive healthy, nutritious food.

Farm to Families reduces Hawai‘i’s dependence on imported food by investing in local agriculture, making our food system stronger and more self-sustaining. This is especially important in the wake of disasters like the Maui wildfires, which demonstrated how vulnerable our food supply chain is during times of crisis. Expanding local food production and distribution is not just an economic necessity but a matter of community resilience.