Thank you for your interest in becoming a participant of Hawaii AgVentures (HAV). HAV is an active member service of the Big Island Farm Bureau (BIFB) that promotes, markets, and facilitates farm tours to travelers visiting Hawaii. BIFB intends to increase direct marketing opportunities and subsequent farm revenues for small farms and processors, while also generating income to support its own projects and activities. Our goal is to develop tours that represent a good, balanced variety and diversity of crops, geographic areas, and producers in Hawaii. Following is the information about the benefits and how to become a participant of the Big Island Farm Bureau’s Hawaii AgVentures project:

BENEFITS

For individuals or organizations committed to hosting agricultural tours, HAV provides training and educational materials, assistance with liability insurance, and on-site assessments with support for creating legally compliant, safe farm tour operations. The following benefits for participation in HAV should be of value to your existing direct-marketing operations:

• New visitors to your farm, increased customer base for follow-up e-commerce, mail order, and direct market sales.
• Inclusion in all of Hawaii AgVentures marketing activities through out Hawaii and the mainland.
• Additional revenues generated from farm admission fees.
• Free training and assistance provided to farm participants.

CRITERIA

In order to become a farm participant your farm must meet the following criteria:

• Lawfully compliant with all Federal, State and County regulations and laws. Leaseholders must comply with all lease requirements.
• Current member of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
• Provide dynamic, well trained, on-farm person to lead tour: may be producer, family member, or trusted employee.
• Agency tour guides and on-farm guides are responsible for disseminating descriptive, accurate information to genuinely educate tourists.

STEPS TO BECOMING A HAV PARTICPANT

In order to become an HAV participant all farms must submit or complete the following steps:

• Be a member of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation --- www.hfbf.org
• Hawaii AgVentures Application --- pdf application form
• Permission and Agreement Form --- pdf permission and agreement form
• Farm Review Prep Guide - After HAV has received your application you will then be provided with HAV’s Farm Review Prep Guide. The objective of the Farm Review Prep Guide is to prepare you for the Farm Review process and to create consistency between our members.
• Farm Review – HAV’s Project Coordinator and volunteers will visit your farm and provide constructive feedback to assist you with your tour operations.
• Farm Review Response – Upon completion of your Farm Review, HAV will send you a Farm Review Response that contains collective feedback from our Farm Review Committee. The Farm Review Response may require improvements that must be made in order for your farm to participate.
• Registered Member – After completing all of the steps listed you are now a Registered Farm Member of Hawaii AgVentures.

Upon completion, HAV will begin including your farm in all of our marketing efforts. Due to the fact that all of our tours are developed based on our client’s interests, we are not able to guarantee tours to your farm. We can guarantee that your farm will be included on our website, marketing efforts, and made available for our clients to select from our registry.