Claire Sullivan

We sit down with Claire Sullivan to talk about the evolution of Hawaiʻi’s local food movement and the systems needed to support farmers and communities. Claire shares her journey from working in corporate communications at Maui Land & Pine to becoming deeply involved in the local food ecosystem through Whole Foods and later Farm Link Hawaiʻi. She reflects on how early efforts to scale local agriculture through retail partnerships helped open opportunities for small producers across the islands. Ashley and Wren explore Claire’s experience supporting local farms through both relational and market-based approaches, highlighting stories from producers like MAʻO Organic Farms and the challenges farmers face in accessing markets. The conversation also touches on broader food system barriers, from supply chain limitations to policy gaps. Claire explains how Farm Link’s model aims to connect farmers directly with consumers while expanding access through SNAP EBT and DaBux programs, illustrating how a more resilient and equitable local food economy can take shape in Hawaiʻi. Socials: @clairefarrissullivan | @farmlinkhawaii | @hoiliilimarket | ⁠Linkedin⁠ Show Notes:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠FarmLink Hawaii⁠⁠ MA’O Organic Farms⁠⁠ Hōʻiliʻili Market & Deli⁠ Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe Timestamps: 00:00 Claire Sullivan Journey 1:58 Maui Land Pine 13:30 Whole Foods Local 23:05 Ma'o Organic Farms 30:12 Hawaii Agriculture Barriers 37:39 Ma'o Fundraising Growth 49:08 Farm Link Mission 1:01:28 Local Food Value