The Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance (HGFA) is spearheading an initiative to create equitable pathways for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and immigrant farmers to access sustainable markets, particularly through Hawaiʻi’s 2025-2029 Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver. By uniting food hubs, healthcare providers, and managed care organizations, HGFA aims to develop replicable models that enable small-scale producers to scale up and participate in institutional food procurement. Their “Locally Sourced Food is Medicine Expansion” cohort will receive targeted support to enhance infrastructure and forge essential relationships, promoting locally sourced, culturally relevant food for institutional buyers. With the potential to impact over 57,000 Medicaid recipients annually, HGFA’s work fosters economic resilience, community health, and food sovereignty across Hawaiʻi, strengthening the local food economy while preserving the island’s cultural heritage.
