Wholesalers

Wholesalers of local agricultural and food products

Wholesalers are critical intermediaries in the value chain, facilitating bulk purchases and distribution to larger markets. However, there is a limited presence of agricultural wholesalers in Hawaii, and the geographic challenges of the islands make it costly to engage in wholesale distribution. Expanding wholesale operations and improving cold storage facilities are key to overcoming these limitations.

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.
Pest and Disease Management	Coffee and macadamia nut producers face persistent challenges from pests such as the Coffee Berry Borer and macadamia felted coccid, which lower yields and increase costs. Research into pest-resistant varieties is critical for mitigation.
Logistical Inefficiencies	Inefficient distribution networks and a lack of cold storage facilities increase the risk of product spoilage during transportation. These inefficiencies disproportionately affect perishable products, such as tropical flowers and seafood.
High Transportation Costs	Hawaii's geographic isolation makes it difficult for producers to compete in international markets. High shipping costs and fuel prices significantly impact the profitability of crops like macadamia nuts, coffee, and floriculture.
Complex Food Safety Compliance	Small farmers face difficulties complying with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and other food safety standards. The cost and complexity of compliance prevent many from accessing certain markets and limit their ability to scale.
Lack of Available Data and Market Information	Insufficient access to reliable market data and demand information constrains decision-making for both producers and buyers. This results in inefficiencies in pricing, production volumes, and market opportunities.
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.
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.