#usda hawaii
$2.6M in grants awarded to support food system infrastructure projects in Hawaiʻi
The US Department of Agriculture has announced awards for 17 Hawai‘i projects totaling $2.6 million under the Resilient Food System Infrastructure program. The RFSI program is aimed at strengthening middle-of-the-supply chain operations and local food systems by supporting processing, manufacturing, storing, transportation, wholesaling and distribution of agricultural products. The grants include $77,896 to Maui Breadfruit Co. and $59,058 to NH Properties, LLC dba Haʻikū Organic Farm on Maui.
‘DA BUX’ Double Up Food Bucks program gets $8.4M boost from USDA
The Food Basket, Hawaiʻi Island’s Food Bank, today announced it has been awarded more than $8.4 million from the US Department of Agriculture to support Hawai‘i’s “DA BUX” Double Up Food Bucks program.
Proposals for specialty crop grants FY24 opened by state agriculture department
The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture will be awarding a total of approximately $523,000 to Hawai‘i proposals that enhance the competitiveness of Hawai‘i specialty crops.
USDA raises summer meal benefits for children in Hawai‘i
To account for the higher cost of food in the state, children in Hawai‘i will receive $59 per month, compared to $40 per month in the continental United States for meal benefits, starting this summer.
$23.1M in damage to agricultural producers from August 2023 wildfires, high winds
Hawaiʻi County producers incurred $100,000 in total losses while Maui County producers incurred $23 million in total losses. Producers estimated the reduction in sales revenue at $5.1 million, the reduction in agritourism revenue at $3.9 million, the value of livestock losses at $75,000, the value of crop damages at $5.4 million, and property damages at $8.5 million.
Hawaiʻi sees first school meal reimbursement rate increase in 40 years
Hawaiʻi’s reimbursement rate for school meals and other federal child nutrition programs has been increased to 30% above the continental US rates, which is projected to bring an additional $8 million a year to Hawaiʻi to support healthy meals for children.
$400,000 in USDA Forest Service grants for wildfire impact on Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi
Four Hawai‘i Island communities and and the Fire Department in Kaua‘i County are receiving more than $400,000 from the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. It helps communities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native corporations plan for and mitigate wildfire risks as the country faces an ongoing […]
Hawaiʻi schools to receive $2 M to help provide school meals, keep kids healthy
US Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawaiʻi) announced that schools in Hawai‘i will receive an estimated $2,340,000 in increased funding from the US Department of Agriculture to help cover the costs of school meal programs.
On Earth Day, USDA Invests $18 M in Rural Hawai‘i Energy and Biofuel Infrastructure
$114,000 for Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, LLC will be used to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project will install six dispensers at three fueling stations located in Hawaiʻi. Station’s locations impacted by this grant include Keaʻau, Waikapū, and Honolulu.
