Rich volcanic soil and year-round warm temperatures make Hawaii a very fertile ground for growing delicious and beautiful crops. Here’s a list of some of the goodness that grows in Hawaii and the value of the crops.
| Crop | Value in US Dollars (per 2007 Report) |
| Seed crops | 146,270,000 |
| Flowers and nursery products | 105,918,000 |
| Fresh Pineapple | 62,457,000 |
| Sugarcane | 47,600,000 |
| Coffee | 31,875,000 |
| Fruits (excluding pineapple) | 30,592,000 |
| Macadamia Nuts | 24,600,000 |
As I was searching for Hawaii agricultural data here were some of my observations:
- Hawaii is iconic for growing pineapple, coffee, and macadamia nuts, but the biggest agricultural crop is seeds. Here’s an article discussing the growth of seed crops in Hawaii.
- Flowers (floriculture) and nursery products are another large agricultural product for Hawaii with orchids being one of the top commodities.
- Hawaii grows a wide variety of fruits including citrus, melons, papayas, bananas, and avocados.
If you want more information on agriculture in Hawaii see Hawaii section of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Additionally, for a quick look, see this Hawaii fact sheet provided by the USDA.
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I should mention that this post was inspired by my parents. When my parents went with us to Maui and Oahu in April, they were exceptionally fascinated with the sugarcane and pineapple fields as well as the tropical fruits and flowers.
Sheila Beal
