Mahi Pono expands Maui-grown avocado production to 1,000 acres

Mahi Pono today announced plans to expand its Maui-grown avocado production to approximately 1,000 acres following successful initial plantings, marking another step in the company’s efforts to increase local food production and strengthen Hawaiʻi’s food security.

“Our initial plantings have given us confidence that we can grow quality avocados on Maui at a commercial scale,” said Justin Teixeira, vice president of farm operations at Mahi Pono. “As an island state, we need to strengthen our ability to feed ourselves. Expanding these orchards is a long-term investment in producing more food here at home and keeping Maui’s agricultural lands productive.”

The expanded orchards will include Lamb Hass, Sharwil, GEM and Greengold avocado varieties, with most of the planting planned for agricultural fields below Pukalani at elevations of approximately 700 to 800 feet. Initial plantings in this area have shown strong potential for commercial production.

Mahi Pono expects the first commercial harvest within five years of the expanded planting. Once the orchards reach full maturity, annual production is expected to exceed 10 million pounds, increasing the supply of Maui-grown avocados available to Hawaiʻi consumers.

Kula-based Maui Native Nursery, owned by Ethan Romanchak, will provide locally grown trees and support the development of the expanded orchards. Planting four avocado varieties will allow Mahi Pono to continue evaluating their performance under Maui’s growing conditions as production increases.

“An orchard of this size starts with quality trees and careful planning,” said Romanchak. “As a Maui nursery, we’re proud to be part of this effort and to help grow a crop that will provide more locally grown food for our community in the years ahead.”

The avocado expansion builds on Mahi Pono’s ongoing work to bring former sugarcane lands in Central Maui into diversified agricultural production. The company has planted more than 3 million trees and continues to develop a range of crops suited to Maui’s growing conditions.

This year, Mahi Pono harvested its first commercial crop of Hawaiʻi-grown mandarins and expanded production of Maui-grown sweet onions and watermelons while continuing to grow its ranching operations. Its produce is available through retailers statewide, providing families across Hawaiʻi with greater access to locally grown food.

The expansion comes as Hawaiʻi agriculture prepares for the long-term impacts of climate change, including changing rainfall patterns, drought and rising temperatures. Building climate resilience will require diversified crops, efficient irrigation, responsible water management and continued investment in crops and varieties suited to Maui’s growing conditions.

“Climate resilience and food security go hand in hand. We really have to think beyond the next harvest and consider what agriculture on Maui will look like decades from now,” Teixeira added.  “That means choosing crops suited to our growing conditions, using water carefully and making investments today that help future generations continue growing food here at home.”

The planned expansion supports Hawaiʻi’s broader effort to increase local food production by keeping agricultural lands productive and developing commercially viable crops. It builds on Mahi Pono’s work to diversify Central Maui agriculture, increase the availability of Hawaiʻi-grown food and strengthen the state’s long-term food security.