Growing Local Food Access in Early Childhood Care
Hawaiʻi’s FARMWISE
Early Childhood Action Startegy (ECAS) Team 3 has taken great steps to increase investment this year with FARMWISE. The National Farm to CACFP Institute and Learning Collaborative, known as FARMWISE, is a two-year funding and technical assistance opportunity for state coalitions dedicated to advancing nutrition and food access through CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) and Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) activities.
A Hawaiʻi coalition comprised of local food and ECE systems partners, under the umbrella of ECAS Team 3, was awarded the opportunity to participate in FARMWISE (2024-2026). With funding assistance from the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, Nemours Childrenʻs Health, and the Food Resilience Grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation/Clementine Fund, Hawaiʻi’s coalition has engaged in a series of activities to increase awareness and understanding of F2CACFP practices and initiatives in Hawaiʻi; build capacity of our local early care and education professionals to implement F2CACFP activities and practices in their early care and education programs; and develop policy and advocacy priorities to increase CACFP participation among Hawaiʻi child care providers and improve access to local foods.
Together, these partners are working to build the infrastructure and trust necessary to sustain Farm to CACFP efforts long-term, embedding them into Hawai‘i’s broader early childhood and public health systems.
With the infusion of funding to support Farm to ECE/CACFP over 2024–2025, the FARMWISE network:
Revived the Healthy Keiki, Healthy Future (HKHF) coalition and convened quarterly meetings.
Delivered First Foods training to Head Start educators on Kauai and ECE providers statewide.
Developed a Kalo to CACFP curriculum and resource guide to connect local agriculture and CACFP reimbursement systems.
Hosted a community listening session to identify barriers and opportunities for ECE providers and meal vendors.
Supported the launch of the GoNAPSACC pilot and the ʻOno for Hawaiʻi map of farms, food hubs, and CACFP sites.
The aim of FARMWISE is to increase the number of ECE programs participating in CACFP, in combination with advancing sustainable, comprehensive Farm to ECE practices, which include purchasing and serving of local foods, edible gardens children can access, and food and agricultural literacy. Impact of activities through 2025 include:
3,400+ keiki reached through participating centers and programs
100+ WIC staff engaged statewide
40+ early learning programs engaged in capacity-building for Farm to CACFP practices
Next steps include completing a Power of Farm to CACFP advocacy series and expanding implementation of training activities while exploring new funding opportunities to continue to increase investments in early childhood physical activity, nutrition, and food access.
Sustaining momentum through ongoing coalition coordination will be key to advancing systems-level change and ensuring Hawai‘i’s keiki thrive through equitable access to nutritious, locally grown food.