Hawaii's worst flooding in 20 years leaves farmers struggling and fewer veggies at markets

Back-to-back March storms brought Hawaii’s worst flooding in two decades, smothering small farms on Oahu’s North Shore and causing an estimated $50 million in damage to crops, livestock, and equipment. Many growers, often immigrant families with only a few acres, had no crop insurance and were days from harvest when fields were buried in contaminated mud. Irrigation systems were left tangled and plants such as lemongrass, cucumbers, okra, bitter melon, tomatoes, and choy sum were lost. Some newly planted trees and fruit crops turned yellow and were unlikely to survive. Farmers now rely on a patchwork of relief grants, loans, and charitable donations, while farmers markets and groceries across the islands offer fewer items, increasing urgency for local food security.

"Back-to-back March storms brought Hawaii's worst flooding in 20 years, smothering small farms on Oahu's North Shore and causing an estimated $50 million in damage to crops, livestock and equipment."

"Many growers, often immigrant families with a few acres, had no crop insurance and were days from harvest; now they're navigating a patchwork of relief grants, loans and charitable donations."

"“In some cases entire farms have been wiped out,” said Brian Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau. “These are farmers who were just days or weeks away from harvesting and now they have to start over.”"

"Across Oahu's North Shore, an area famed for its big-wave surfing, the small farms that help supply the island's food are struggling after back-to-back storms in March brought the state's worst flooding in two decades. Officials are pleading with farmers not to give up, stressing that local agriculture is crucial for the isolated archipelago."

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