Local Foods
There are numerous ways ECE providers and meal vendors can procure and incorporate local foods into their meals and snacks!
Farmers' Markets and Farms
Purchase individual items or subscribe for a CSA (community supported agriculture) food box. Connect directly with farms.
Some ECE providers are able to meet their needs by shopping at a nearby farmers' market, or by arranging in advance to pick up larger orders at the market.
Food Hubs or Food Distributors
These companies gather produce from many different farms on-island and sell them to you! Purchase online and choose pick-up or delivery.
When purchasing directly from a farmer or food hub, you may be able to arrange delivery directly to your center, or pick up at a convenient location. Search for food hubs near you or scroll down to find Food Hubs on each of the majort islands.
Check out this great resource to learn more about the Food Hub Hui.
Grocery Stores
Most grocery stores carry locally-grown items. Check for signs promoting locally-sourced foods!
School & Home Gardens
Edible gardens can be grown at home or at school and are perfect for learning and tasting new foods.
Fun, easy foods to start with include lettuce, herbs, cucumbers and squash. If you are unsure about your soil quality or have limited space to grow, consider growing food in pots or containers.
Check out gardening resources from University of Hawaiʻi College of Agriculture and Human Resources.
Cooperative Buying
Consider partnering with other ECE providers in your community to buy in bulk from a farm or food hub to help lower costs. If you are a smaller center or a family child care home provider, consider partnering with other early care sites nearby.
Ho'opili 'Ai: Uniting Keiki and Hawaiian Food Crops
Farm to school connects kids with their food and with the ‘āina, that which feeds and nourishes us all – fostering the next generation of healthy, caring stewards.
The new Hoʻopili ʻAi Campaign – Uniting Keiki & Hawaiʻi Food Crops builds lifelong relationships between youth and Hawaiʻi-grown staple foods!
With our Farm to School Boxes and coordinating Hoʻopili ʻAi Lesson Plan, learning materials are at your fingertips for you to build an interactive, experiential food systems lesson that students will truly enjoy!
DA BUX
DA BUX is a program of The Food Basket in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance. It makes Hawaiʻi grown fruits and vegetables more affordable for SNAP-EBT cardholders. Learn more about the program here!
"The health of the land, is the health of our people, is the health of our nation"
Dr. Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli