Building a Hawai‘i-Based Flour Economy

Building a Hawai‘i-Based Flour Economy is a collaborative project led by Farm Link Hawai‘i and the Culinary Breeding Network. The project supports Hawai‘i-grown crops as local flour alternatives to imported grains, strengthening food security and regional markets.

The project focuses on six well-adapted crops—breadfruit, taro, cassava, sweet potato, macadamia nut, and banana—and brings together growers, millers, bakers, chefs, and food businesses through workshops, tastings, and outreach. CBN’s role centers on culinary engagement, storytelling, and market development to increase awareness and use of local flours.

This initiative grew directly from conversations at the May 2025 Variety Showcase on Hawai‘i Island, where growers, bakers, chefs, and buyers expressed strong interest in expanding access to locally produced flours and building stronger connections across the supply chain.

CBN has a long history of collaboration in Hawai‘i. In partnership with GoFarm Hawai‘i and the University of Hawai‘i, CBN organized Variety Showcase events on O‘ahu in 2018 and 2019, highlighting plant breeding, variety trials, and the rich agricultural and culinary traditions of the Hawaiian Islands.

See the Hawai‘i Crops Zine.