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Author Archives: Honesta Romberger
Hawaii Farming’s Uncertain Future
Honesta Romberger January 26, 2018Source: Hawaiibusiness.com Hawaii’s farmers can’t catch a break. Rat lungworm has accelerated difficult changes in local farming. One local leader predicts a quarter of Hawaii’s produce farms will be out of business in a few years. They are already battered by high land and energy costs, intense competition from Mainland imports and their own…
Hawaii’s First Agriculture Tech Hackathon Provides Solutions to Challenges Facing Hawaii Agriculture
Honesta RombergerSOURCE: Coffeetalk.com Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism issued the following news release: The AGathon, Hawaii’s first agriculture-tech hackathon, wrapped up over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend with 10 teams participating. Four teams were recognized for outstanding solutions to problems currently facing Hawaii agriculture. In first place, the Harvest Vision…
Hawaii Legislature (SB2398) Farmers Market dollar-for-dollar matching program for SNAP recipients
Honesta Romberger January 23, 2018CLICK HERE to view source. SB 2398 A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. The legislature finds that consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is an integral part of a healthy diet and central to the…
USDA Local Food Economics Webinar – Jan 24, 2018
Honesta Romberger January 18, 2018Using the new Economic Impact Calculator to Assess your Project: A Discussion on the Connections to the USDA AMS Toolkit and Framing Used to Develop the Calculator Wednesday, January 24, 2018 2-3 pm Eastern (11 am – 12 pm Pacific) During this webinar oriented toward local food practitioners and project managers, we highlight the use…
NEW Resource: Farmers Market Legal Toolkit
Honesta Romberger January 16, 2018In partnership with the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School and NOFA-VT, FMC is excited to share the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit. Created with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the toolkit is a response to recurring questions from farmers market managers as they…
Farm Business Workshop Series – Alaska Feb 7, 8, 9, & 10
Honesta Romberger January 10, 2018Click here for more info. This collaboration between Homer Folk School, Homer Soil and Water, and Alaska Farmland Trust is intended to give both new and experienced farmers the business skills they need to increase efficiency and profits for their farm. Take one workshop or take them all! Permaculture for Farmers Wednesday, February 7, 6-8:30pm…
Farmers Market Boot Camp: Six Events Will Be Held Across Tennessee in January & February 2018
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Via The Knoxville Focus: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Farmers who want to pursue their dream of starting a food business can learn how to turn that dream into reality at six Farmers Market Boot Camps to be held across Tennessee in January and February. The workshops will be taught by specialists from the University of Tennessee…
USDA Survey Reports Latest Hawaii Agriculture Statistics
Honesta RombergerVia Big Island Now: The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released survey findings for Hawai‘i’s agriculture industry production and sales during the 2016 and 2017 season. [Keep reading]
Local seeds for local needs: farmers launch sales of seeds grown in Hawaii
Honesta RombergerHawai‘i Seed Growers Network has launched an online store to sell locally produced seeds cultivated by the network’s experienced growers. Customers can choose from artisanal varieties of peppers, beans, herbs, and flowers which are well adapted to Hawai‘i’s growing conditions. This project was funded in part by Hawaii Department of Agriculture under the USDA Specialty…
GoFarm Hawaiʻi receives funding to continue training future farmers
Honesta RombergerVia University of Hawai’i News: The University of Hawaiʻi’s successful farmer-training program GoFarm Hawaiʻi has received $600,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. The additional funding will allow GoFarm Hawaiʻi to continue training aspiring farmers to increase local agricultural production. GoFarm Hawaiʻi…
