The County of Maui Department of Agriculture will host a free online workshop Wednesday, Sept. 16, to help Maui County organizations and healthcare providers prepare applications for two Fiscal Year 2027 grant programs supporting access to locally grown food and strengthening the local agricultural economy.

The workshop from 3 to 4:30 p.m. will cover eligibility, grant requirements and the application process for the Food is Medicine Grant and Local Food Purchasing Incentive: Farm-to-Family Grant programs. Register to attend via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/FiMandFtF.

Applications for both programs will be accepted beginning Sept. 15 through 4:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 2026.

“The County’s food grant programs are designed to connect more people with locally grown, nutritious food while creating stronger markets for our farmers and ranchers,” County Director of Agriculture Rogerene “Kali” Arce said. “Whether it’s food prescribed as part of a patient’s healthcare plan or local food made more affordable and accessible to families, these programs support both community health and our local agricultural economy.”

The Food is Medicine Grant program integrates food and nutrition into healthcare to help prevent, manage and treat chronic illnesses through locally grown food prescribed to support positive patient health outcomes.

Eligible programs include clinical prescriptions for local fruit and vegetable boxes, local protein boxes and medically tailored meals.

The program is intended for Maui County-based healthcare providers and community health centers.

The Local Food Purchasing Incentive: Farm-to-Family Grant program supports Maui County-based organizations in purchasing food grown or harvested in Maui County, entering into purchasing contracts, or establishing consumer subsidy programs that make locally sourced food more affordable.

Eligible programs include farm-to-food pantry initiatives, kūpuna feeding programs, local produce and protein box distributions and programs that subsidize locally sourced food for Maui County residents struggling with food costs.

"By supporting both clinical food prescriptions and community purchasing subsidies, these grants help make fresh, locally grown food more accessible across our community while expanding market opportunities for Maui County farmers and ranchers,” Arce said.

Starting Sept. 15, prospective applicants can access grant applications and program information through the County Department of Agriculture grants webpage at mauicounty.gov/AgGrants. Information for the specific grant programs is available at https://www.mauicounty.gov/Foodismedicine and https://www.mauicounty.gov/Farmtofamily.

For more information, contact the County Department of Agriculture at https://www.mauicounty.gov/agriculture, (808) 270-8276 or email AgGrants@mauicounty.gov.

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