Retailers

Retailers of local agricultural and food products.

Retailers play an important role in connecting consumers with local food products. Large retailers, such as supermarkets, have strict quality and quantity requirements that are difficult for small-scale producers to meet. Farmers’ markets and smaller, independent stores have become crucial for distributing local products. Building stronger relationships between producers and retailers is essential for increasing local food sales.

Associated Challenges:

Cold Chain Management	Maintaining the cold chain is critical for export commodities like flowers, fruits, and seafood. The absence of adequate refrigerated facilities and inefficient cold chain logistics leads to higher post-harvest losses and reduced quality.
Limited Cold Chain Capacity	Inadequate cold storage and distribution infrastructure for perishables (especially fruits and vegetables) result in post-harvest loss, lower quality produce, and missed opportunities in high-value markets.
Inadequate Aggregation and Processing Facilities	Hawaiʻi Island lacks sufficient aggregation and processing facilities, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to reach markets efficiently and profitably. This infrastructure gap exacerbates post-harvest loss and limits access to markets.
Misalignment of Supply and Demand	There is a frequent misalignment between farm production and market demand. Poor demand forecasting and issues with harvest timing lead to inefficiencies, resulting in food waste and revenue losses for small-scale producers.