Embedded Files
07/23/2025 - A total of $3 million from the Regional Food Business Centers program for farmers in the CNMI, Guam, and American Samoa is part of the $30-million grant that the U.S. Department of Agriculture terminated on July 15, 2025.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a press release, “The Biden Administration created multiple, massive programs without any long-term way to finance them. This is not sustainable for farmers who rely on these programs, and it flies in the face of Congressional intent.”
Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance executive director Harmonee Williams is the program director from the lead entity in the Islands & Remote Areas region. She said, “I can attest that this termination will eliminate all federal funds we had dedicated to support CNMI farmers. It is a devastating blow to our agricultural communities.”
Guahan Sustainable Culture president and co-founder Michelle Crisostomo, lead program administrator for the Pacific Island U.S. Territories Regional Food Business Center, told Marianas Press that the $3 million was meant to support programs that would run through 2027.
“The termination of the Islands and Remote Areas Regional Food Business Center program represents a significant loss for CNMI farmers and food producers who had been preparing for months to access critical business development support,” Crisostomo said in response to Marianas Press’ request for comment.
She added, “This program was specifically designed to address the unique challenges facing Pacific Island agriculture, including geographic isolation, limited market access, and lack of specialized technical assistance.”
She said, “The loss is particularly devastating given the limited alternatives available to our geographically isolated farming communities. This termination highlights the challenges of building sustainable agricultural partnerships in Pacific Island communities, where trust, relationship-building, and long-term federal commitment are critical for success. However, despite this setback, Guahan Sustainable Culture remains committed to continuing our relationship-building efforts and supporting CNMI's agricultural community with whatever capacity we have now and into the future.”
Former CNMI lawmaker Sheila Babauta, who was a contractor for the program in the CNMI through Guahan Sustainable Culture, said the news is disappointing.
“The program brought hope to local farmers and producers in the CNMI…” Babauta told Marianas Press.
She added, “Building trust and becoming familiar with the complex federal requirements was critical to a successful outcome, and that took a lot of time and effort engaging with our communities. It's no wonder many are hesitant to participate in these types of federal programs—they simply don't trust the process, and I can't blame them.”
Babauta said that islands need creative solutions to advance food sovereignty amid the federal cuts.
Report by Thomas Manglona II
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