GoFarm Hawaiʻi receives funding to continue training future farmers

      Posted On: January 3, 2018

Via 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 has five program sites across four islands, making it one of the largest beginning-farmer training programs in the nation. Sites are located on Oʻahu (in Waimānalo and Waialua), Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. Started in 2012, the program has trained more than 260 aspiring farmers throughout the state.

“We are grateful for this funding and look forward to training and supporting those who want to farm in Hawaiʻi,” said Janel Yamamoto, GoFarm Hawaiʻi program director. “In addition to growing thousands of pounds of food for the local market, our graduates are creating great value-added products, developing cooperative ways to market and distribute food, educating our island keiki about the importance of the local food supply and being leaders and active participants in the agricultural community.” [Keep reading]