The lack of adequate infrastructure is a major bottleneck for Hawai'i Island’s agricultural sector, particularly in terms of transportation, storage, and processing facilities. Geographic isolation makes it difficult for producers to efficiently move their products to market, especially in the case of perishable goods like fruits and vegetables. The absence of sufficient cold storage facilities further exacerbates the problem, leading to high post-harvest losses. For instance, fruit producers, in particular, report significant spoilage due to inadequate cold chain logistics, as noted in the 2022 USDA report.
Investing in centralized processing and storage hubs, including facilities with cold storage, would be a critical intervention. This would not only reduce post-harvest losses but also allow producers to add value to their crops through processing and packaging. Furthermore, improving transportation links between remote farming regions and central markets would reduce costs and open up new market opportunities for smallholders. Infrastructure improvements would benefit multiple components of the value chain, from production and processing to distribution and sales, enhancing the overall efficiency and competitiveness of the sector.