Staple Food Commodities
Production
Production information is divided between the three primary staple foods commodity groups: Fruits, Vegetables & Melons, and Livestock & Dairy. Click on the links below to view data for each of the three groups.
Fruits
The following table shows the numbers of producers for each fruit crop on Hawai'i Island for the past ten years. Entries showing a zero (0) instead of a blank entry indicate there were too few data points to be able to reveal the data without revealing information about individual operations.
County Data
Statewide data from HDOA’s Market Analysis and News Branch provides more details of production and yields than can be found in most County-specific data. The Statewide data shows the significant difference in yields between Avocado production in Hawaiʻi compared to other states, being only 16% of the national average in 2022.
Source: Hawaiʻi Dept of Agriculture, Market Analysis and News Branch
Statewide Data
The following table shows how Avocado production and yields in the state have declined over the past five years.
Statewide Data
A concerning trend is the declining acreage of crops like avocados and bananas, highlighting the urgent need for interventions to address issues such as disease management, market access, and labor availability. These declines suggest underlying problems that, if left unaddressed, could significantly impact the island's fruit production capacity. On the other hand, there are promising signs of growth and diversification in the fruit sector. The expansion of mango, lychee, and longan production presents opportunities for further development and market expansion.
Statewide Data
Source: Hawaiʻi Dept of Agriculture, Market Analysis and News Branch
Vegetables & Melons
Vegetable and melon production on Hawai'i Island is characterized by its diversity and adaptability to the island's varied microclimates. The numbers of vegetable producers on Hawaiʻi Island over the past ten years.
County Data
Statewide Growth in Vegetables
Statewide data shows strong increases in production of vegetable crops, as shown in the following table released by the USDA NASS Pacific Region Office in 2023.
Statewide Data
A survey conducted on taro farming across the state of Hawaiʻi estimated total crop production at about 4.8 million pounds and valued at $6.4 million in 2021. Loʻi taro1 led the way for both production and value of 2.6 million pounds (54.7%) and $3.3 million (51.5%) respectively. This is followed by luau leaf2 at 1.9 million pounds (40.0%) and $2.5 million (39.7%) respectively. Upland taro3 accounted for 257,000 pounds, valued at $563,000. In terms of planted acreage statewide, loʻi taro was cultivated in 269 acres (61.4%), followed by luau leaf, grown in 76 acres (17.3%), and upland taro, 29 acres (6.6%). Another 64 acres (14.7%) were reported as fallow land. A total of 438 acres were reported as dedicated to taro farming.
Statewide Data
Livestock & Dairy
The livestock and dairy sector on Hawai'i Island represents a significant component of the agricultural landscape, encompassing cattle ranching, poultry production, pig farming, and small-scale dairy operations. This sector not only contributes to the island's food security but also plays a crucial role in land management and cultural heritage.
County Data
Statewide Data from HDOA show increases in value in 2023 due to higher prices, even though production volume decreased during the year.
Statewide Data