6 Hawaii businesses awarded $250K each to ramp up agricultural production

Six agricultural companies have every been awarded $250,000 by way of an initiative beneath state Division of Agriculture to shortly enhance native agricultural manufacturing.

The DOA, in collaboration with the College of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Tropical Agriculture and Human Assets, was currentd $1.5 million from the state Legislature final yr for the Develop Hawaii Agriculture Initiative 2021. The objective of This method is To permit six chosen companies to ramp up their agricultural manufacturing.

“The program was impressed with The regular of the 45 proposals it acquired from numerous agricultural companies,” said Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, chairwoman of the Board of Agriculture, in A press launch. “The proposals have been awarded to companies with confirmed monitor data of success and Which have demonstrated The power to significantly enhance agricultural manufacturing and increase markets for Hawaii-grown commodities.”

Three of the awarded companies — Agrefab LLC, SK Pure Farms LLC and Zhao Produce Inc. — are based mostly on Oahu. Kawamata Farms Is predicated out of Hawaii County, and Malama Kauai is on Kauai. Hawaiian Golden Farm is on Oahu and Kauai.

The proposals for the six $250,000 awards various.

Agrefab will use its money to “increase farm operations” and scale up its agricultural drying and juicy facility, wright hereas Kawamata Farms plans on growing its hydroponic greenhouse operation To current Roma tomatoes.

Malama Kauai will use its award to increase its Moloaa AINA Center meals hub To current processing amenities and aggregation and distribution providers for Greater than 100 Kauai farmers, ranchers and meals producers.

SK Pure Farms will “set up a small animal harvest unit” for hog farmers To enhance native pork manufacturing and tackle current chain bottlenecks.

Hawaiian Golden Farm has plans to increase its acreage and automate farming operations wright hereas creating worth-added merchandise to be purchased regionally and exported elsewright here. And Zhao Produce will increase its Thai and Italian basil harvest And in addition create worth-added merchandise each for native use and export.

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