Local Grown Food
Hawaii's people need to support local farms. Over the years, local farms have been closing, if this continues Hawaii may one day be without a single farm. In Hawaii, mainland companies have been taking over local markets and dominating our economy; because of this, local farms on Hawaii have not been able to make enough money to stay in the game. But, when local people buy local food they not only help themselves but help the community. It allows for more money to stay within the island’s economy, and helps keep the bond between the farmers and the customers strong. Hawaii's farms are struggling, because people in Hawaii aren't buying locally grown foods.
Local grown food tastes so much better than imported foods. “Farm to table” is a figure of speech that refers to food that is grown locally. In the local grown industry the journey to the supermarket is only a few days, compared to weeks (for imported foods). Due to the short journey no preservatives are needed. "Studies show that food produced organically can be nutritionally superior to those grown conveniently." The advantage of buying fresher and more organic food, is undoubtedly better for you. By consuming non-chemical contaminated food, you keep all of the chemicals and pesticides that would have been in imported foods out of your body. Although local food may cost a few more cents, that’s a small price to pay for better quality.
If Hawaii were to be isolated (meaning no barges could reach us and deliver food) we would only last about 3-5 days max. According to a Canadian Research Advocacy (ETC) “70 percent of the food the world consumes every year is grown by small-scale rural and urban farmers, while industrial farming, which gets most of the attention, land, and R&D dollars, actually produces only about 30 percent of the world’s food. This means that all Hawaii needs are more small farms, not big corporations. In Hawaii’s case all we really have is room for small farms, we just need people who are willing to gamble in this tricky industry. “One Island Hawaii” has found that "Hawaii imports merely 85% of it's food from the mainland." That only leaves about 15% to be grown locally on the islands. This can be changed if people on Hawaii can help increase the 15% to 100%. If more farms up-rise then maybe Hawaii can one day sustain itself entirely.
If people in Hawaii bought local a little more often, the chain reaction would be huge. Based off a study, if just 10% of imported foods changed into locally grown food it would have a huge positive impact on Hawaii. Approximately 2,300 jobs would be available on farms, and that might get some homeless off of the streets and into homes. Also, $313 million dollars would be kept in the islands economy, allowing for more money on other important things such as rail. As of now, Hawaii has about 280,000 acres of agricultural land, but it belongs to early plantation barons, and Hawaiian royal families. Rather than split up their land to 10 acres or less and sell it, they rather sell their land in huge proportions. Now if they somehow changed their minds, and aspiring farmers bought some of the land, it could be the start Hawaii needs to becoming fully sustainable. Having more local farms is a matter that needs to be taken seriously by everyone.
Without the people, our local farms will not be able to be sustainable, and neither will our island. Local farms are the the keys that will unlock Hawaii’s future. Local farms will open up jobs, grow our economy, produce healthier food and help Hawaii become independent. But, all this can’t be achieved if people in Hawaii don’t buy local. The statistics on how Hawaii can improve is right in front of everyone, people just need to take responsibility and help out others on the mission to make Hawaii the paradise that everyone dreams about. Now whenever you go and buy local food instead of imported you can smile because you are helping out Hawaii in ways that you may not be able to see right now, but will when the time is right.
