The Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) for the Pacific Island US Territories works to strengthen local food systems in Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa.
Its mission is to support food producers, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agriculture while respecting indigenous traditions. We will provide financial and technical assistance, improve infrastructure, and foster collaboration with local communities, focusing on underserved producers and sustainable, long-term growth.
Our Responsibilities & Activities
Technical Assistance
Provide direct business technical assistance to small- and mid-sized food and farm businesses (producers, processors, distributors, and other businesses within the food supply chain) and food value and supply chain coordination.
Capacity Building
Provide financial assistance through Business Builder subawards to support projects focused on emerging regional needs and businesses that are working towards expansion and other investment.
Business Builder Focus Areas
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Value-added production helps farmers and food producers enhance profitability by transforming locally grown ingredients into unique products through processing, packaging, and marketing.
We will support small farms and food businesses looking to enter or expand in value-added production.
Funding will be designed to
Increasing the number of value-added products made from local agricultural products
Improving the viability of existing farm and food businesses
Increasing revenue for farm and food businesses
Building capacity in local food systems
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Food aggregation and distribution involve collecting products from multiple small-scale producers and distributing them to larger markets or consumers.
We will support organizations to establish or expand food hub operations.
Funding will be designed to
Improve storage facilities and ensure transportation safety
Provide technical assistance on aggregation and pricing
Develop hubs for efficient distribution
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Market development involves creating and expanding opportunities for farmers to sell their products. It includes identifying new markets, building relationships with buyers, and increasing product visibility.
Funding will be designed to
Incentivize buyers while collaborating with producers
Creating a demand capitalizing on marketing and branding
Promote locally through campaigns to inform consumers
Our Regional Partners
The Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance is the lead entity of The Islands and Remote Areas Region of the Regional Food Business Center (RFBC), which aims to serve as the cornerstone of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) development of local and regional supply chains for the local farming communities of the Pacific islands of Hawaiʻi, Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa; the state of Alaska, and the US Caribbean territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
