Home grown: the trials and triumphs of starting up a farmers' market in Waianae, Hawaii

Abstract

Improving access to healthy foods is fundamental to bolstering the overall health of a community. Farmers' markets are one way to make healthy foods more available while simultaneously enhancing the economic viability of the community. However, developing and sustaining a farmers' market is often easier said than done—requiring substantial resources, community cooperation and partnerships, copious amounts of creativity, and perseverance. This article chronicles the birth and growth of a farmers' market initiative in response to a community with unique socio-economic and health disparities, and offers practical advice based on experience for similar communities interested in creating farmers' markets. Specific innovative strategies used at this market include: the acceptance of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) technology; free transportation; the inclusion of traditional Hawaiian food vendors; Hawaiian food-related cultural activities such as poi-pounding demonstrations; community-wide market development surveys; key partnerships with established agricultural organizations; and ongoing nutrition education/food demonstrations.

Keywords:

• community development
• community food system
• farmers' market
• food access
• health disparities

Acknowledgement

This initiative was supported by the Cooperative Agreement Number 5U58DP000970 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by a grant from the Hawaiian Electric Company. The contents of this journal article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Hawaiian Electric Company.