Farmer Impacts
Explore the impact of the DA BUX program on Hawaiʻi's local farmers with real stories and insights from farmers on Maui, Oʻahu, and the Big Island.
By Robert Munoz
DA BUX Communications Specialist
Jan 19, 2024
Hana Farmers Market is almost a necessity for the Hana community.
Farmers in and around the rural Maui area rely on the locals to purchase their produce. With the nearest grocery store being nearly two hours away, they rely on the farmers to be there every Friday.
Here, shoppers who pay with SNAP food benefits (formerly known as food stamps) are eligible to receive a 50% discount when purchasing Hawaiʻi-grown fruits and vegetables through the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks program. Because of the discount, SNAP shoppers can buy double the produce with their SNAP dollars. More purchasing power from the customer ultimately results in twice as much money in the farmers’ pocket.
“DA BUX is great for me on Fridays because there are a lot of people that use SNAP-EBT out here”
“DA BUX is great for me on Fridays because there are a lot of people that use SNAP-EBT out here,” said Maui farmer Matt Ponchitera. “With DA BUX you can walk out of (the farmers market) with a pretty good price … definitely cheaper than Costco.”
DA BUX doesn’t only benefit Maui Island farmers, though.
Chalida and Mike McCann have been farming on the Big Island for nine years. Three years ago, however, they lost their lease for their farm in Waimea.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for the McCann’s to find new, more affordable land in Hōnaunau.
“The main struggle for farmers, especially small farmers on the islands, is land access,” Chalida said. “Land is very expensive and we’re fortunate to have gotten the lease we have now.”
One location where the McCann’s sell their produce is Keauhou Farmers Market. Keauhou Farmers Market is the only farmers market participating in DA BUX on the Big Island, and is one of the 59 partner retailers statewide that offers DA BUX discounts.
It’s no secret DA BUX helps farmers sell more produce through these avenues, and the program has helped increase the McCann’s sales by selling at Keauhou Market. It’s a reason their small farm is seeing progress.
“(DA BUX discounts) greatly help our sales. … Customers buy twice as much and it’s a win-win for everyone”
“(DA BUX discounts) greatly help our sales. … Customers buy twice as much and it’s a win-win for everyone,” Chalida said. “DA BUX is a great program. You’re supporting a local farmer so that they can stay in business. And then that local farmer is supporting other small businesses that are within our community.”
Selling directly to customers at a farmers market isn’t the only way local farmers are supported by DA BUX. There are also those farmers that sell to one of the many other partner grocery stores and food hubs that source local produce.
Just like farmers selling at a farmers market, these retailers sell more local produce because SNAP customers can purchase more thanks to receiving the 50% discount. Retailers are then able to purchase more produce from local farmers while keeping the pricing point where it should be.
“The DA BUX program is really important whether farmers are selling directly to the DA BUX customers, or they have to go through a middleman,” said Nicholas Reppun of Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi Farm on Oahu. “I think especially if you’re going through a middleman, it really allows the middleman to pay the farmer what they should and still keep things affordable for the customers.
“That puts money in our local economy which ultimately is better for everybody.”
Learn more about DA BUX
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