How To Grow Strawberries In Hawaii

Can strawberries be grown in Hawaii?

Strawberries – When choosing strawberries at the market, make sure you are buying those grown in Hawaii and not California (where the majority of this berry is produced). Hawaiian-grown strawberries have an intense flavor, much more pronounced than the fruit from the mainland. The strawberries peak January through April but are harvested October through July.

What strawberries grow best in Hawaii?

Recommended strawberry varieties for Hawaii: Eversweet, Quinault, Seascape. Although strawberries are grown commercially on the Islands, and the Fragaria chiloensis species of strawberries grow at elevation there, they are more difficult to grow in the tropical environment and not highly recommended.

What is Hawaiian strawberry?

‘Hawaiian Berry’ has a subtle taste of sweet, Hawaiian pineapple. Consider planting this strawberry in a container so you can enjoy easy harvest and the unique berry color as the plant cascades over the rim.

What are the best strawberries for tropical climate?

‘Chandler’, ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Loran’ are three well-known heat-tolerant cultivars available in other parts of the world.

What is the easiest fruit to grow in Hawaii?

1. Papaya trees in Hawaii – One of the easiest and carefree trees to start growing right away on the island are papayas which can easily be started with seeds from a fruit that you find is full of flavor. Papaya trees. Even though papaya trees grow in many different environments, they grow best in lower elevations and planted in sunny areas with well drained soil.

Why can’t you bring fruit back from Hawaii?

Last Modified: Oct 28, 2022 USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits or restricts the entry of many agricultural products from Hawaii into the U.S. mainland, including most fresh fruits and vegetables and certain types of plants and flowers.

That’s because these items could harbor a dangerous stowaway—an invasive pest or disease. Just one piece of fruit or a single plant that is carrying an invasive pest or disease could lead to millions of dollars in damage, expensive eradication efforts, lost trade revenue, and higher food prices. So, before you mail, ship, or carry any agricultural products into the U.S.

mainland, please click on the links below to find out what’s allowed and what’s prohibited. For more information, please contact the APHIS offices in Hawaii at the numbers provided below. Travelers: You must present all food, plants, and other agricultural items to the USDA inspector at the airport before you leave Hawaii.

Inspection Notice for Travelers Coming from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam Guidance for Mailing and Shipping Food and Agricultural Products from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland

Fresh fruits and vegetables, some exceptions are those listed below as permitted Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and sea grapes Cactus plants or cactus plant parts Cotton and cotton bolls Fresh flowers of jade vine, and Mauna Loa Kikania and fresh pandanus Live insects and snails Seeds with fruit clinging and fresh seed pods Soil or any plants in soil Sugarcane Swamp cabbage (unchoy) Mock orange

Beach sand Coconut Coffee: Travelers are permitted to bring back unlimited quantities of roasted coffee or green (unroasted) coffee beans without restriction through any continental U.S. port of entry. Commercially canned or processed foods, including processed fruits and vegetables

Accepted processing methods include cooking, drying, or freezing. If freezing, all fruits must be frozen solid at the time of inspection. Frozen mango must be without seeds.

Dried seeds and decorative arrangements Fresh flowers, leis, and foliage, except any citrus or citrus-related flowers, leaves, or other plant parts, as well as jade vine or Mauna Loa

For more information on bringing back leis, please read: Know the Lei of the Land: How To Make Sure Your Leis Can Come Back to the U.S. Mainland

Hinahina (Spanish moss) Irish or white potatoes Fresh pineapple Treated fruit, such as papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet potato

These fruits must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and packed in sealed boxes that are properly marked and stamped.

Plants and cuttings

Some States may require rooted plants to be certified by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture before they may be moved to the U.S. mainland. Please contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for more information. Contact numbers are provided at the bottom of this page.

Rocks and stones Seashells, not land snail shells Seed leis and seed jewelry Wood (including driftwood and sticks) and wood roses (dried)

Beets Rutabagas Turnips (without tops)

Chayote Lima bean Okra Green banana Green onion Pea Pumpkin Snow pea String bean Watermelon Winged bean Winter melon Yard long bean Zucchini

What is the number 1 fruit in Hawaii?

1. Hawaiian pineapple – Always known as a symbol of Hawaii and Hawaiian hospitality, pineapples are the most popular and iconic Hawaii state fruit grown commercially on the islands. Pineapple plantations where big on the islands with large exports of the fruit to the mainland and many places abroad of canned pineapples or fresh fruit.

• Now pineapple production tends to be grown on smaller farms selling to the local markets and some shipments to the mainland.
• The main two types of pineapple are the yellow and white pineapples which are both sweet, juicy and delicious to eat raw or served in salads, smoothies, baked goods and as an ingredient to many prepared dishes.

You’ll know when pineapples are ready to eat when you touch the skin and it starts to give, the colors start changing to a yellow orange on the skin and you can smell the sweetness of the fruit coming out. When is Pineapple season in Hawaii? Typically pineapple season is fairly long and starting from April until September year year.

What fruit is abundant in Hawaii?

Apple banana – Originally, banana trees—which are large perennial herbs—were planted in mountain valleys on slopes above streams, where they now grow wild. When the Europeans found the Hawaiian Islands, there were 50 known varieties. Today, there are 160, and the ubiquitous apple banana is available at every farmers market and some grocery stores. Apple bananas are smaller in size and have a slightly different flavor with a touch of tangy to it. In Hawaii, you’ll find tropical fruit at Foodland, the state’s largest and oldest locally owned grocery chain, with stores across the Islands. The biggest and freshest selections can be found at the farmers markets, where fruit was harvested the day before and picked at peak ripeness.

(Be sure to show up when the market opens, because the ripe ones go first and fast.) There’s a market every day of the week, any time of year, because Hawaii temperate climate enables farmers to grow year-round. Believe it or not, Hawaii has four distinct seasons, all of which produce different types of tropical fruit.

FALL : breadfruit, citrus, dragon fruit, jackfruit, passionfruit, starfruit. WINTER : breadfruit, citrus, longan, mangosteen, rambutan. SPRING : avocados, chocolate sapote, citrus, lychee, mangosteen, star apple. SUMMER : avocados, dragon fruit, egg fruit, jackfruit, lychee, mango, passionfruit, soursop.

What is the most popular fruit grown in Hawaii?

Pineapple – When thinking about Hawaii’s fruits, one of the first that comes to mind is the sweet, juicy pineapple. Even though pineapples are not a native fruit to Hawaii- they are originally from South America- pineapples are Hawaii’s most popular fruit and are used in many Hawaiian foods, Pineapple – one of the most famous fruits in Hawaii Pineapples are not a quick-growing fruit. The first pineapple a plant produces takes 18 and 20 months to grow, while the second fruit takes just over a year. In the early 1900s, James Dole began Hawaii’s pineapple industry, and in 1922 he bought the island of Lanai to grow pineapples. Pineapple on Maui Besides eating fresh pineapple while in Hawaii, try the famous Dole Whip. This deliciously refreshing treat is soft-serve ice cream made with pineapple juice. The best part of leaving Hawaii is taking a pineapple or two home as part of your carry-on luggage. The prime season for pineapple harvesting is from March through July,

What are the sweetest strawberries in the world?

Alpine – Small Alpine strawberries come in a surprising variety of colors, The fruit is tiny but incredibly sweet, in fact, the sweetest variety you can grow. Alpine strawberry plants are also prolific producers, Grow them in Zones 3-10. Buy seeds here or check here for many more buying options.

What are Dutch strawberries?

Zomerkoninkjes If you’re at all keeping up with the news back home, you know that several years ago we had an important change of the guard. Queen Beatrix abdicated, after 33 years of being at the helm, the throne to her son William Alexander. For the first time in 123 years, we’ll go back to having a king.

• My mind being the way it is, I was more consumed with finding out what they were going to eat during those exciting days than with the whole crowning affair per se, with all due respect.
• Would they serve for one last time? A slice of koningsbrood to go with a Dutch cup of coffee? Oh, if only I knew!!! Worst of all, with all this talk about koning this and koning that, I could not stop thinking about zomerkoninkjes.

Zomerkoninkjes, summer kings, is a Dutch nickname for strawberries. They grow abundantly in The Netherlands, both in fields and in greenhouses. Furthermore, it’s a great way to make some spending money in the summer: when I was a young girl, many of my classmates would pick field strawberries for the local farmer and get paid per crate.

1. I tried to do the same one year, but ended up eating more strawberries than landed in my crate.
2. At the end of the day, I had only made a few guilders.
3. And I had a big stomach ache! But strawberries are a traditional early summer treat.
4. As soon as the red berries are available in the store or at the market, the Dutch will serve these first berries on slices of white, buttered bread with a sprinkling of regular sugar, much to the delight of the children.

Because, as strawberries are fairly juicy, the moment you pour sugar on it, it dissolves. The trick was to convince your parents that you had not yet sprinkled any sugar on the fruit and that it was imperative that you’d sprinkle some more, and then see how many times you could get away with it.

What grows naturally in Hawaii?

Nuts & Fruits – Due to its mild year-round growing conditions, the County of Hawai`i is known for its cultivation of a wide range of tropical fruits and nuts. Principal tropical fruit and nut crops produced on Hawaii Island include macadamia, papaya, banana, guava, avocado, and specialty tropical fruits. This Island is home to the State’s entire macadamia industry and the majority of State’s papaya, guava and specialty tropical fruits production. In 2007, the 3rd most valuable diversified agricultural commodity was macadamia nuts ($24.6 M, 100% of state total value); and the 4th most valuable one included all fruits except pineapple ($22.8M, 75% of state total value). More information on nuts & fruits >>

What crop only grows in Hawaii?

Hawaii Farmland covers close to 40% of Hawaii, and contains some 5,700 farms, which average 263 acres in size. During the 1800s Hawaii developed an export economy based on sugar and pineapple cultivation. Today, the leading traditional crops, sugarcane and pineapple, are grown on large plantations.

• Sugarcane is grown on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
• Fruits and vegetables are grown for local consumption, while greenhouse and nursery products, papayas, macadamia nuts, and coffee are grown for export.
• Most food items must be imported since local growers cannot supply the state’s food needs.

As for the livestock industry, the island of Hawaii has several large cattle ranches, while Oahu contains many dairy and egg farms which are a major source of farm income. View in a larger map Top Five Lists Top 5 Commodities 1. Other seeds 2. Greenhouse/nursery 3.

Can you grow berries in Hawaii?

Exotics evoke mystery of foreign origin. The wide array of fruit and flowering trees listed in this section contain plants unfamiliar to some. By providing horticultural, cultural and general information about these plants, we hope to encourage people to seek out and try these varieties and consider adding them to their orchards and gardens as welcome additions to the yard. Abiu Abiu is delicious eaten fresh and has a flavor often described as “butterscotch caramel.” The white, sweet, translucent flesh is enclosed by a tough, thin, yellow skin. Native to the Amazon, Abiu is tropical in its requirements, needing a moist, warm climate. Acerola Acerola fruit has one of the highest natural amounts of ascorbic acid or vitamin C, just one will satisfy the daily adult requirements. The fruit is tart and makes an excellent jelly. The attractive pink blooms are followed by the bright red, juicy, cherry-like fruits and are abundant on the bush-like trees several times a year. Banana ‘Dwarf Apple’ Dwarf Apple Bananas are a popular fresh eating banana in Hawaii. The fruit is known for its tart, sweet flavor and thin skin and have a long shelf life and are excellent for drying as they do not brown in the process. The trees are tolerant to wind, and grown best in the moist lowlands with good drainage, but are very adaptable and grow well in most climates in Hawaii. Betel Nut Betel nut is the seed from a tall thin palm from Southeast Asia that is often chewed, wrapped in betel pepper leaf and smeared with lime, as a gentle stimulant. Clove, cinnamon, or cardamom is often added for flavor. Betel nut grows best in lowlands with abundant moisture and slightly acid soil. Bilimbi Bilimbi is a relative of Carambola or Starfruit but is very different in taste, flavor, and appearance. The tree is attractive and grows to 10 to 15 feet. The flowers are small and fragrant and will emerge right on the trunk and oldest branches, followed by the pickle shaped tart fruits. Black Sapote Black Sapote, a close relative of the persimmon, is chocolate-colored with the texture of a soft peach. The fruit is usually eaten fresh and can be mixed with lemon juice and honey to make a ‘mousse’ or whipped into desserts such as ice creams and cheesecakes. Blueberry Blueberries can be grown in most climates and elevations in Hawaii. The low-chill varieties produce an abundant amount of delicious berries throughout the year. The bushes can reach 3 to 6 feet in height, with flowers and berries on the terminal branch ends. Brazil Cherry The Brazilian Cherry is considered the best of the Eugenias. The skin is thin, firm and exudes dark-red juice. The white pulp is juicy and tastes much like a true sub-acid or sweet cherry. It is usually eaten fresh but can be made into jam, jelly and wine. Breadfruit Breadfruit is an equatorial lowland species that grows best below elevations of 1,000 feet, but is found at elevations of 2,000 feet. Trees grow best with rainfall is 60 to 120 inches per year, and soils that are neutral to alkaline. ‘ Ma’afala’ is the preferred variety, bearing quickly and consistently.

Other varieties include ‘ Apuapua’, ‘ I’o’ I’o’, and ‘ Tahitian’, Breadfruit is an important crop in Hawaiian culture with an abundance of preparations from sweet to savory dishes to more modern applications such as flours and hummus. Breadfruit can be very productive and bear fruit for up to 60 years.

They are good sources of potassium, fiber, calcium and Vitamins A and C. Cacao Cacao seed is the basis for commercial chocolate or cocoa. It is native to Central America and was sacred to the Aztecs. The tree produces football-shaped pods about 8 inches long directly on the trunk and branches. They are ready to pick when the skin turns either red or yellow (depending on variety).

Inside are numerous large (20 to 50) seeds covered with a white fruity pulp. The cacao tree is a small evergreen (10 to 12 feet) that grows best with high humidity, deep rich soil, and at least 60 inches of rain per year. Cacao prefers the lowlands below 2,000 feet. Young trees require partial shade until they are at least four feet tall and can be interplanted with bananas or palms.

Cacao is long lived and can produce for up to 50 years. Cardamom Cardamom spice is the seed in the flower pods from a tall willowy ginger. The orchid-like flowers are small and on stalks that usually trail along the ground. The spice is used in flavoring curries, coffee, cakes, bread, and other sweets. Cardamom is a among the world’s most expensive spices and is also used in perfumes, to flavor liqueurs, and medicinally as a stimulant. Cinnamon Cinnamon is an ancient spice with roots dating back to 2,000 BC. It has a wide variety applications ranging from baked goods and drinks to incense and perfumes, and is a wonderful tea for a cough. The inner bark of the smaller branches is the part used to make the spice. Clove Cloves, believed to be a native of Indonesia, are beautiful and graceful trees, with stellar pink and yellow new leaves all year round. Cloves are slow-growing trees that do best on deep volcanic soils with abundant rainfall and good drainage, they can be grown at most elevations throughout the state. Coffee Coffee is native to tropical Africa and is grown for its berries which are picked, pulped and processed to produce a dried seed which is roasted. Hawaii’s coffee is considered by many to have the finest flavor in the world due to the rich volcanic soils and optimal climate.

Coffee is a dark green, small tree, growing to 15 feet unpruned. Many commercial trees are kept at half that height. All ‘Kona Coffee’ is C. Arabica. There is a dwarf C. Arabica called ‘ Cattura’, It is a highly productive tree with high quality beans. There is also a ‘Coffee Liberica,’ which is a large tree with large leaves, flowers, and berries, and has been used to make instant coffee.

Coffee is grown in most Hawaii climates. The trees require regular fertilization. Local companies process and roast homegrown coffee for clients to sell or give as gifts. Curry Leaf The Curry Leaf is a thick bush or small tree with small leaves. It is grown primarily in southern India for its aromatic leaves, an essential ingredient in Madras curry. The leaves can be used fresh or dried in cooking, the oils are often used in soaps and cosmetics, and the fruit can be eaten fresh. Figs Figs are delicious and easy to grow. Figs are eaten fresh, made into preserves, cakes and dessert fillings. The small deciduous trees grow in most areas of Hawaii, although too much rainfall can stall its growth. The fruit is borne on the new flush several times a year.

Do not be alarmed when the tree loses its leaves in the winter, new growth and fruit will appear soon after. One improved variety is ‘Brown Turkey’ which has a purplish brown fruit with a pink flesh and is a closed-end type (self-pollinating). ‘Brown Turkey’ has a low spreading habitat. ‘Kadota’ is a more upright, vigorous tree, the fruit is a rich amber flesh with a pale green skin.

‘Kadota’ is an excellent tasting all-purpose fig. ‘Magnolia’ is another variety that is excellent eaten fresh and grows best in Leeward or coastal locations. Guava Guavas range from sweet to acidic, with the acid varieties grown for juice and processing, and the sweet varieties for fresh eating. The trees are very vigorous and can be grown virtually anywhere in Hawaii. For commercial production, or backyard harvesting guava trees need to be pruned.

Dessert guavas include the ‘Philippine Swirl’ a fragrant and sweet selection of pink and light yellow swirled flesh. ‘Ruby x Supreme’ is a sweet rich pink variety developed in Florida and known for its flavor and dependable bearing. ‘White Indonesian’ is a delicious, white fleshed high quality eating variety with large 5 to 6 ounce fruit.

‘Ka Hua Kula’ is a juice variety selected from the Waiakea Experiment Station as an improvement over ‘Beaumont’, the former standard for juice. Jaboticaba Jaboticaba trees are native to Brazil. The trees are bushy, slow growing and reach about 15 feet in Hawaii. The round purple fruit are borne directly on the trunk and branches. The fruit is sweet and delicious, somewhat like a ‘Concord Grape’, with slightly tough skin, and can be eaten fresh or preserved as wine or jelly. Jackfruit Jakfruits are very large fruits weighing 10 to 40 pounds or more and are borne on the trunk and branches. The thick pulp covering each seed is sweet and has a wide range of uses. It can be eaten fresh and is often used curries and soups, or dried as chips and the large seeds and leaves are also used in culinary applications. Langsat Langsat is a very popular fresh eating Philippine fruit also known as ‘Lansone’. Beneath the tan skin, the small fruit is divided into a few segments of translucent, juicy flesh. The flesh is slightly acidic and sweet in taste. The fruit is borne in clusters off the trunk and branches of the tree. Longan Longans are native to China and are usually eaten fresh but are also dried, canned, or made into delicious dessert sauces and sorbets. It is a delicious, juicy fruit with a very sweet flavor, and a single seed. It is a large spreading tree which is easily managed with annual pruning.

It produces best below 2,000 feet. ‘Biew Kiew’ is a popular commercial variety that has large sweet fruit, bears well and has a good shelf life. ‘Sri Champoo’ is another recommended variety that has large beautiful, sweet fruit, but not the shelf life of the ‘Biew Kiew’. Trees prefer full sun, and need wind protection and good drainage.

The fruit is high in vitamin C and has been known to aid in digestion and is used in other medicinal applications in Eastern Medicine. Loquat Loquat is native to China and related to apples, pears and quince. The fruit is juicy and firm with a mild sweet taste. When ripe the fruit is bright yellow and has an easy to peel thin velvety skin. It is delicious eaten fresh and can also be prepared in many ways, including jams, preserves, cake fillings, and served in fruit salads. Lychee Lychee is one of Hawaii’s most popular fruits. The season is short and the red sweet fruit is savored by everyone. The Lychee is best eaten fresh out of hand but can be dried or used in desserts. The large beautiful trees thrive in a moist rocky soil and benefit from high potassium fertilizers once they reach fruiting age.

Lychee need to be protected from strong winds, and can be easily managed in height and shape with annual pruning after harvest. There are several popular varieties that grow well in Hawaii. The ‘B-3′ is very sweet and has a reddish orange skin. It is a consistent bearer, fruiting around July after the ‘ Kaimana’ season.

Emperor is a very large fruit, bears late in the season and the tree is compact. ‘ Groff’ is a mid-season, small fruit with ‘chicken tongue’ or undeveloped seed. The ‘ Kaimana’ is the most popular cultivar because of its consistent bearing habits and high fruit quality. Macadamia Nut Macadamia Nuts, native to Queensland are delicious and easy to grow in Hawaii. The trees produce well with minimum care, and need well drained soils, wind protection, and at least 50 inches of rain a year. The trees are slow to mature and need about 8 to 12 years in the ground to reach full production and produce for decades. Magnolia The Magnolia is a stately, beautiful shade and flowering tree. It is striking with its large dark green leaves and contrasting huge white fragrant flowers. The flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer attracting bees from everywhere it seems. Mamey Sapote Mamey Sapotes flavor can be described as a delicious combination of pumpkin, sweet potato, and maraschino cherries. The fruit’s texture is creamy and sweet and best eaten fresh or in ice creams or smoothies. A mamey sapote is ripe when the flesh is orange when a fleck of the skin is removed. Mangosteen Mangosteen is referred to as the “Queen of Fruits,.” The fruit is apple sized, round, purple-brown, with a smooth, thick skin. The flesh is white and considered the most delicious fruit in the world. The flesh is eaten fresh and many health products are made from the fruit and skin. Miracle Berry Miracle berry is a slow growing, small upright bush, easily grown in a container. The berries are small with a red skin, white flesh and a large seed. When eaten, a molecule from the flesh binds with the receptors in the taste buds making sour and acidic foods taste sweet. Mountain Apple Mountain Apple, whether the ‘Red’ or ‘White’ variety, are delicious fresh eating fruits and grow easily in most backyards. The trees can grow tall and produce abundant fruit several times a year, usually in the summer months. The ‘Red’ variety is easier to market as it does not show blemishes to the skin. Mulberry Mulberries produce abundant fruit that is about one inch long, dark purple when ripe, sweet and tasty. The fruit is delicious eaten fresh and can easily be made into jams, pie fillings or colorfully added to a fruit salad. The trees thrive in most locations here and are best maintained in bush fashion with ease. Nutmeg (& Mace) Nutmeg is a beautiful tall, slow growing tree, native to Indonesia. The yellow husk of the nutmeg splits open to reveal the mahogany seed surrounded by a crimson lace coating. The brilliant red coating is the spice Mace. Within the rich brown shell is the prized Nutmeg seed. Passionfruit Passionfruit are vigorous vines, producing abundant stunning flowers and great tasting fruit. ‘Lilikoi’ or the ‘Yellow Passionfruit’ is the most common of the passionfruits in Hawaii. It is most often used as a juice and is rich and acidic.

It also makes excellent jellies and dessert toppings. ‘Purple Passionfruit’ is a sweet fresh eating variety that prefers some shade and grows well upslope. ‘Jamaican Passionfruit’ is a soft skinned orange variety with a sweet flavor. The ‘Orange Passionfruit’ has a hard orange skin and sweet juice. The ‘Giant Granadilla’ or Giant Passionfruit is shade-loving with large flowers and football sized fruit.

It is not as flavorful as the other varieties. Pepper The pepper vine is slow growing and can be easily grown in Hawaii under the light shade of a tree or in a container with a trellis. It is attractive, prolific, ever bearing, and one of the most useful spices. Pineapple ‘Sugarloaf’, a sweet white Pineapple has melting white flesh, and a soft edible core. They are extremely sweet and rich in flavor. Pineapples are easy to grow and harvest. The fruit is ripe in August and September. Puakenikeni Puakenikeni flowers are amazingly fragrant and popular as lei flowers. The tree is small and spreading, grows well from sea level to 3,000 feet and the flowers are plentiful much of the year. In Hawaiian Puakenikeni means “ten cent flower”, which they sold for in the 1930’s when first introduced to Hawaii. Pulasan Pulasan is closely related to rambutan. The fruit is generally sweeter than rambutan and has a berry like flavor. Instead of soft hairs like rambutan, the fruit has soft short ‘spines’ and is dark purple when ripe. It is tropical in it requirements, growing best out of the wind with a warm moist climate, and generally bears fruit every other year. Rollina Rollinia deliciosa is a fast-growing Annona from tropical America and is native to Brazil. It is a medium-sized tree of less than 15 feet in height, and bears within 3 years with proper care. The sweet delicious custard-like fruit is best eaten fresh or made into a smoothie. Soursop The fruit, contrary to its name, is sweet and can be stringy. It is eaten fresh or chilled and is often made into candy, sorbet or juice. The small tree bears the large fruit directly on the trunk and large branches, and grow best below 1,000 feet in high humidity climates. Star Apple Star apple trees are very beautiful, large and spreading. The glossy leaves have golden undersides that make the trees worthy just for their appearance. The fruit is about the size of a large apple with five small seeds that look like a star when the fruit is cut. Starfruit Starfruit is a beautiful, easy to grow, early bearing tree. The yellow, star-shaped fruit are abundant, juicy and sweet. The fruit usually eaten fresh, with the skin and can also be used in juices, chutneys, or as a garnish or palate cleanser. Surinam Cherry Surinam Cherries are native to South America. The trees or bushes are easy to grow and maintain, and prefer climates below 2,000 feet. They make an attractive hedge with the small leaves turning from pink to red to green. The cherry-sized, pumpkin-shaped fruits are excellent, high in Vitamin C, and are used in jams, jellies, and pies. Turmeric Turmeric, called Olena in Hawaiian is a root that is a key ingredient for many savory Asian and Indian dishes. It has many health benefits and can be used in sweet and savory cooking. The plant is easy to grow and does best in full sun with high humidity. It loses its foliage in the winter, as some gingers do, and the leaves will grow back in the spring. Vanilla Vanilla is produced from the bean pod of a vigorous climbing orchid vine that loves shade and prefers a humid climate. Extract from the true vanilla bean is very expensive and has a pure a delicate flavor, used in ice creams, cakes, candy, eggnog, etc. Production of the pod is increased with hand pollination. Vanilla is also available in a beautiful ‘variegated’ form. White Sapote White Sapote, native to Mexico, has creamy white flesh with a sweet pear-banana-peach flavor. The round, green skinned, baseball-sized fruit is delicious eaten fresh. ‘ Denzler’ is a variety with a longer than average shelf life. ‘ Suebelle’ is a slightly larger fruit with some ‘stone cells’ near the skin.

Is it illegal to bring a pineapple from Hawaii?

Shipping or mailing most fresh fruits and vegetables from Hawaii to the continental United States is prohibited due to the risk of introducing certain invasive plant pests and diseases. However, there are a few exceptions. Fresh pineapple and coconut are permitted after inspection.

Why can’t you take bananas from Hawaii?

In answer to your question only packaged foods are allowed from Hawaii, you can’t just pick fruits and then send them to the mainland. This is due to plant pests and disease. Pineapples and coconuts are the exception but they still need to be agriculturally inspected.

Which fruit is prohibited to leave Hawaii?

RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED ITEMS: – If you have questions regarding the import status of any plant or animal, please contact the Plant Quarantine Branch at (808) 832-0566. Common restricted plant material: Most plants are permitted into the State after inspection.

Pineapple and bromeliad plants and fruits Passion fruit plants and seeds Cruciferous root vegetables (radish, turnip, daikon, horseradish, rutabaga) Corn on the cob Citrus and pulpy fruits from Florida & Puerto Rico Taro and dasheen Coconuts

Orchid plants require an import permit and certificate of origin. Plants in the grass family (including sugar cane and bamboo. Coffee plants and plant parts including seeds. (Green coffee beans must be fumigated and certified prior to shipment)* Palm plants Aster, chrysanthemum, hollyhock, dahlia and gladiolus plants require certification of origin or certification of treatment depending on where they are grown.* Pine plants and parts require certificate of origin or certificate of treatment depending on where they are grown. Cut branches are allowed during the period of Oct.20 to Dec.31. Sorghum, broomcorn and sudan grass – non-propagative parts require certificate of origin or certificate of treatment depending on where it is grown. Propagative parts (except seed) for planting require an import permit and quarantine.

To view the administrative rules regarding plant importation (Chapter 70 – Plant Import Rules), click here.

Can you grow berries in Hawaii?

Exotics evoke mystery of foreign origin. The wide array of fruit and flowering trees listed in this section contain plants unfamiliar to some. By providing horticultural, cultural and general information about these plants, we hope to encourage people to seek out and try these varieties and consider adding them to their orchards and gardens as welcome additions to the yard. Abiu Abiu is delicious eaten fresh and has a flavor often described as “butterscotch caramel.” The white, sweet, translucent flesh is enclosed by a tough, thin, yellow skin. Native to the Amazon, Abiu is tropical in its requirements, needing a moist, warm climate. Acerola Acerola fruit has one of the highest natural amounts of ascorbic acid or vitamin C, just one will satisfy the daily adult requirements. The fruit is tart and makes an excellent jelly. The attractive pink blooms are followed by the bright red, juicy, cherry-like fruits and are abundant on the bush-like trees several times a year. Banana ‘Dwarf Apple’ Dwarf Apple Bananas are a popular fresh eating banana in Hawaii. The fruit is known for its tart, sweet flavor and thin skin and have a long shelf life and are excellent for drying as they do not brown in the process. The trees are tolerant to wind, and grown best in the moist lowlands with good drainage, but are very adaptable and grow well in most climates in Hawaii. Betel Nut Betel nut is the seed from a tall thin palm from Southeast Asia that is often chewed, wrapped in betel pepper leaf and smeared with lime, as a gentle stimulant. Clove, cinnamon, or cardamom is often added for flavor. Betel nut grows best in lowlands with abundant moisture and slightly acid soil. Bilimbi Bilimbi is a relative of Carambola or Starfruit but is very different in taste, flavor, and appearance. The tree is attractive and grows to 10 to 15 feet. The flowers are small and fragrant and will emerge right on the trunk and oldest branches, followed by the pickle shaped tart fruits. Black Sapote Black Sapote, a close relative of the persimmon, is chocolate-colored with the texture of a soft peach. The fruit is usually eaten fresh and can be mixed with lemon juice and honey to make a ‘mousse’ or whipped into desserts such as ice creams and cheesecakes. Blueberry Blueberries can be grown in most climates and elevations in Hawaii. The low-chill varieties produce an abundant amount of delicious berries throughout the year. The bushes can reach 3 to 6 feet in height, with flowers and berries on the terminal branch ends. Brazil Cherry The Brazilian Cherry is considered the best of the Eugenias. The skin is thin, firm and exudes dark-red juice. The white pulp is juicy and tastes much like a true sub-acid or sweet cherry. It is usually eaten fresh but can be made into jam, jelly and wine. Breadfruit Breadfruit is an equatorial lowland species that grows best below elevations of 1,000 feet, but is found at elevations of 2,000 feet. Trees grow best with rainfall is 60 to 120 inches per year, and soils that are neutral to alkaline. ‘ Ma’afala’ is the preferred variety, bearing quickly and consistently.

Other varieties include ‘ Apuapua’, ‘ I’o’ I’o’, and ‘ Tahitian’, Breadfruit is an important crop in Hawaiian culture with an abundance of preparations from sweet to savory dishes to more modern applications such as flours and hummus. Breadfruit can be very productive and bear fruit for up to 60 years.

They are good sources of potassium, fiber, calcium and Vitamins A and C. Cacao Cacao seed is the basis for commercial chocolate or cocoa. It is native to Central America and was sacred to the Aztecs. The tree produces football-shaped pods about 8 inches long directly on the trunk and branches. They are ready to pick when the skin turns either red or yellow (depending on variety).

Inside are numerous large (20 to 50) seeds covered with a white fruity pulp. The cacao tree is a small evergreen (10 to 12 feet) that grows best with high humidity, deep rich soil, and at least 60 inches of rain per year. Cacao prefers the lowlands below 2,000 feet. Young trees require partial shade until they are at least four feet tall and can be interplanted with bananas or palms.

Cacao is long lived and can produce for up to 50 years. Cardamom Cardamom spice is the seed in the flower pods from a tall willowy ginger. The orchid-like flowers are small and on stalks that usually trail along the ground. The spice is used in flavoring curries, coffee, cakes, bread, and other sweets. Cardamom is a among the world’s most expensive spices and is also used in perfumes, to flavor liqueurs, and medicinally as a stimulant. Cinnamon Cinnamon is an ancient spice with roots dating back to 2,000 BC. It has a wide variety applications ranging from baked goods and drinks to incense and perfumes, and is a wonderful tea for a cough. The inner bark of the smaller branches is the part used to make the spice. Clove Cloves, believed to be a native of Indonesia, are beautiful and graceful trees, with stellar pink and yellow new leaves all year round. Cloves are slow-growing trees that do best on deep volcanic soils with abundant rainfall and good drainage, they can be grown at most elevations throughout the state. Coffee Coffee is native to tropical Africa and is grown for its berries which are picked, pulped and processed to produce a dried seed which is roasted. Hawaii’s coffee is considered by many to have the finest flavor in the world due to the rich volcanic soils and optimal climate.

Coffee is a dark green, small tree, growing to 15 feet unpruned. Many commercial trees are kept at half that height. All ‘Kona Coffee’ is C. Arabica. There is a dwarf C. Arabica called ‘ Cattura’, It is a highly productive tree with high quality beans. There is also a ‘Coffee Liberica,’ which is a large tree with large leaves, flowers, and berries, and has been used to make instant coffee.

Coffee is grown in most Hawaii climates. The trees require regular fertilization. Local companies process and roast homegrown coffee for clients to sell or give as gifts. Curry Leaf The Curry Leaf is a thick bush or small tree with small leaves. It is grown primarily in southern India for its aromatic leaves, an essential ingredient in Madras curry. The leaves can be used fresh or dried in cooking, the oils are often used in soaps and cosmetics, and the fruit can be eaten fresh. Figs Figs are delicious and easy to grow. Figs are eaten fresh, made into preserves, cakes and dessert fillings. The small deciduous trees grow in most areas of Hawaii, although too much rainfall can stall its growth. The fruit is borne on the new flush several times a year.

Do not be alarmed when the tree loses its leaves in the winter, new growth and fruit will appear soon after. One improved variety is ‘Brown Turkey’ which has a purplish brown fruit with a pink flesh and is a closed-end type (self-pollinating). ‘Brown Turkey’ has a low spreading habitat. ‘Kadota’ is a more upright, vigorous tree, the fruit is a rich amber flesh with a pale green skin.

‘Kadota’ is an excellent tasting all-purpose fig. ‘Magnolia’ is another variety that is excellent eaten fresh and grows best in Leeward or coastal locations. Guava Guavas range from sweet to acidic, with the acid varieties grown for juice and processing, and the sweet varieties for fresh eating. The trees are very vigorous and can be grown virtually anywhere in Hawaii. For commercial production, or backyard harvesting guava trees need to be pruned.

Dessert guavas include the ‘Philippine Swirl’ a fragrant and sweet selection of pink and light yellow swirled flesh. ‘Ruby x Supreme’ is a sweet rich pink variety developed in Florida and known for its flavor and dependable bearing. ‘White Indonesian’ is a delicious, white fleshed high quality eating variety with large 5 to 6 ounce fruit.

‘Ka Hua Kula’ is a juice variety selected from the Waiakea Experiment Station as an improvement over ‘Beaumont’, the former standard for juice. Jaboticaba Jaboticaba trees are native to Brazil. The trees are bushy, slow growing and reach about 15 feet in Hawaii. The round purple fruit are borne directly on the trunk and branches. The fruit is sweet and delicious, somewhat like a ‘Concord Grape’, with slightly tough skin, and can be eaten fresh or preserved as wine or jelly. Jackfruit Jakfruits are very large fruits weighing 10 to 40 pounds or more and are borne on the trunk and branches. The thick pulp covering each seed is sweet and has a wide range of uses. It can be eaten fresh and is often used curries and soups, or dried as chips and the large seeds and leaves are also used in culinary applications. Langsat Langsat is a very popular fresh eating Philippine fruit also known as ‘Lansone’. Beneath the tan skin, the small fruit is divided into a few segments of translucent, juicy flesh. The flesh is slightly acidic and sweet in taste. The fruit is borne in clusters off the trunk and branches of the tree. Longan Longans are native to China and are usually eaten fresh but are also dried, canned, or made into delicious dessert sauces and sorbets. It is a delicious, juicy fruit with a very sweet flavor, and a single seed. It is a large spreading tree which is easily managed with annual pruning.

It produces best below 2,000 feet. ‘Biew Kiew’ is a popular commercial variety that has large sweet fruit, bears well and has a good shelf life. ‘Sri Champoo’ is another recommended variety that has large beautiful, sweet fruit, but not the shelf life of the ‘Biew Kiew’. Trees prefer full sun, and need wind protection and good drainage.

The fruit is high in vitamin C and has been known to aid in digestion and is used in other medicinal applications in Eastern Medicine. Loquat Loquat is native to China and related to apples, pears and quince. The fruit is juicy and firm with a mild sweet taste. When ripe the fruit is bright yellow and has an easy to peel thin velvety skin. It is delicious eaten fresh and can also be prepared in many ways, including jams, preserves, cake fillings, and served in fruit salads. Lychee Lychee is one of Hawaii’s most popular fruits. The season is short and the red sweet fruit is savored by everyone. The Lychee is best eaten fresh out of hand but can be dried or used in desserts. The large beautiful trees thrive in a moist rocky soil and benefit from high potassium fertilizers once they reach fruiting age.

Lychee need to be protected from strong winds, and can be easily managed in height and shape with annual pruning after harvest. There are several popular varieties that grow well in Hawaii. The ‘B-3′ is very sweet and has a reddish orange skin. It is a consistent bearer, fruiting around July after the ‘ Kaimana’ season.

Emperor is a very large fruit, bears late in the season and the tree is compact. ‘ Groff’ is a mid-season, small fruit with ‘chicken tongue’ or undeveloped seed. The ‘ Kaimana’ is the most popular cultivar because of its consistent bearing habits and high fruit quality. Macadamia Nut Macadamia Nuts, native to Queensland are delicious and easy to grow in Hawaii. The trees produce well with minimum care, and need well drained soils, wind protection, and at least 50 inches of rain a year. The trees are slow to mature and need about 8 to 12 years in the ground to reach full production and produce for decades. Magnolia The Magnolia is a stately, beautiful shade and flowering tree. It is striking with its large dark green leaves and contrasting huge white fragrant flowers. The flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer attracting bees from everywhere it seems. Mamey Sapote Mamey Sapotes flavor can be described as a delicious combination of pumpkin, sweet potato, and maraschino cherries. The fruit’s texture is creamy and sweet and best eaten fresh or in ice creams or smoothies. A mamey sapote is ripe when the flesh is orange when a fleck of the skin is removed. Mangosteen Mangosteen is referred to as the “Queen of Fruits,.” The fruit is apple sized, round, purple-brown, with a smooth, thick skin. The flesh is white and considered the most delicious fruit in the world. The flesh is eaten fresh and many health products are made from the fruit and skin. Miracle Berry Miracle berry is a slow growing, small upright bush, easily grown in a container. The berries are small with a red skin, white flesh and a large seed. When eaten, a molecule from the flesh binds with the receptors in the taste buds making sour and acidic foods taste sweet. Mountain Apple Mountain Apple, whether the ‘Red’ or ‘White’ variety, are delicious fresh eating fruits and grow easily in most backyards. The trees can grow tall and produce abundant fruit several times a year, usually in the summer months. The ‘Red’ variety is easier to market as it does not show blemishes to the skin. Mulberry Mulberries produce abundant fruit that is about one inch long, dark purple when ripe, sweet and tasty. The fruit is delicious eaten fresh and can easily be made into jams, pie fillings or colorfully added to a fruit salad. The trees thrive in most locations here and are best maintained in bush fashion with ease. Nutmeg (& Mace) Nutmeg is a beautiful tall, slow growing tree, native to Indonesia. The yellow husk of the nutmeg splits open to reveal the mahogany seed surrounded by a crimson lace coating. The brilliant red coating is the spice Mace. Within the rich brown shell is the prized Nutmeg seed. Passionfruit Passionfruit are vigorous vines, producing abundant stunning flowers and great tasting fruit. ‘Lilikoi’ or the ‘Yellow Passionfruit’ is the most common of the passionfruits in Hawaii. It is most often used as a juice and is rich and acidic.

It also makes excellent jellies and dessert toppings. ‘Purple Passionfruit’ is a sweet fresh eating variety that prefers some shade and grows well upslope. ‘Jamaican Passionfruit’ is a soft skinned orange variety with a sweet flavor. The ‘Orange Passionfruit’ has a hard orange skin and sweet juice. The ‘Giant Granadilla’ or Giant Passionfruit is shade-loving with large flowers and football sized fruit.

It is not as flavorful as the other varieties. Pepper The pepper vine is slow growing and can be easily grown in Hawaii under the light shade of a tree or in a container with a trellis. It is attractive, prolific, ever bearing, and one of the most useful spices. Pineapple ‘Sugarloaf’, a sweet white Pineapple has melting white flesh, and a soft edible core. They are extremely sweet and rich in flavor. Pineapples are easy to grow and harvest. The fruit is ripe in August and September. Puakenikeni Puakenikeni flowers are amazingly fragrant and popular as lei flowers. The tree is small and spreading, grows well from sea level to 3,000 feet and the flowers are plentiful much of the year. In Hawaiian Puakenikeni means “ten cent flower”, which they sold for in the 1930’s when first introduced to Hawaii. Pulasan Pulasan is closely related to rambutan. The fruit is generally sweeter than rambutan and has a berry like flavor. Instead of soft hairs like rambutan, the fruit has soft short ‘spines’ and is dark purple when ripe. It is tropical in it requirements, growing best out of the wind with a warm moist climate, and generally bears fruit every other year. Rollina Rollinia deliciosa is a fast-growing Annona from tropical America and is native to Brazil. It is a medium-sized tree of less than 15 feet in height, and bears within 3 years with proper care. The sweet delicious custard-like fruit is best eaten fresh or made into a smoothie. Soursop The fruit, contrary to its name, is sweet and can be stringy. It is eaten fresh or chilled and is often made into candy, sorbet or juice. The small tree bears the large fruit directly on the trunk and large branches, and grow best below 1,000 feet in high humidity climates. Star Apple Star apple trees are very beautiful, large and spreading. The glossy leaves have golden undersides that make the trees worthy just for their appearance. The fruit is about the size of a large apple with five small seeds that look like a star when the fruit is cut. Starfruit Starfruit is a beautiful, easy to grow, early bearing tree. The yellow, star-shaped fruit are abundant, juicy and sweet. The fruit usually eaten fresh, with the skin and can also be used in juices, chutneys, or as a garnish or palate cleanser. Surinam Cherry Surinam Cherries are native to South America. The trees or bushes are easy to grow and maintain, and prefer climates below 2,000 feet. They make an attractive hedge with the small leaves turning from pink to red to green. The cherry-sized, pumpkin-shaped fruits are excellent, high in Vitamin C, and are used in jams, jellies, and pies. Turmeric Turmeric, called Olena in Hawaiian is a root that is a key ingredient for many savory Asian and Indian dishes. It has many health benefits and can be used in sweet and savory cooking. The plant is easy to grow and does best in full sun with high humidity. It loses its foliage in the winter, as some gingers do, and the leaves will grow back in the spring. Vanilla Vanilla is produced from the bean pod of a vigorous climbing orchid vine that loves shade and prefers a humid climate. Extract from the true vanilla bean is very expensive and has a pure a delicate flavor, used in ice creams, cakes, candy, eggnog, etc. Production of the pod is increased with hand pollination. Vanilla is also available in a beautiful ‘variegated’ form. White Sapote White Sapote, native to Mexico, has creamy white flesh with a sweet pear-banana-peach flavor. The round, green skinned, baseball-sized fruit is delicious eaten fresh. ‘ Denzler’ is a variety with a longer than average shelf life. ‘ Suebelle’ is a slightly larger fruit with some ‘stone cells’ near the skin.

Can you grow fruit year-round in Hawaii?

Apple banana – Originally, banana trees—which are large perennial herbs—were planted in mountain valleys on slopes above streams, where they now grow wild. When the Europeans found the Hawaiian Islands, there were 50 known varieties. Today, there are 160, and the ubiquitous apple banana is available at every farmers market and some grocery stores. Apple bananas are smaller in size and have a slightly different flavor with a touch of tangy to it. In Hawaii, you’ll find tropical fruit at Foodland, the state’s largest and oldest locally owned grocery chain, with stores across the Islands. The biggest and freshest selections can be found at the farmers markets, where fruit was harvested the day before and picked at peak ripeness.

Be sure to show up when the market opens, because the ripe ones go first and fast.) There’s a market every day of the week, any time of year, because Hawaii temperate climate enables farmers to grow year-round. Believe it or not, Hawaii has four distinct seasons, all of which produce different types of tropical fruit.

FALL : breadfruit, citrus, dragon fruit, jackfruit, passionfruit, starfruit. WINTER : breadfruit, citrus, longan, mangosteen, rambutan. SPRING : avocados, chocolate sapote, citrus, lychee, mangosteen, star apple. SUMMER : avocados, dragon fruit, egg fruit, jackfruit, lychee, mango, passionfruit, soursop.

Can fruit be brought into Hawaii?

Don’t Bring Fruits or Vegetables – Don’t bring Fruits or Vegetables into Hawaii. It’s actually illegal to bring them into Hawaii because of the very unique ecosystem. It could be disrupted via unwanted pests on your uneaten apple or banana in your bag. You’re required to fill out a landing card, much like if you’re visiting another country. In Hawaii this is about the agricultural import laws.

What produce can you grow in Hawaii?

Vegetables and Root Crops – Waimea on the Island of Hawai`i is a major production area for fresh produce, including asparagus, burdock, cabbage, celery, lettuce, onions, sweet corn, strawberries, squash, and tomato, In 2007, the 7th most valuable diversified agricultural industry on the Island of Hawai`i included vegetables, ginger root, herbs and melons ($10.1M, 21% of state total value). The majority of all production of sweet potato is along the Hamakua Coast of Hawai`i. Taro is grown under wet-land cultivation in Waipio Valley and under upland-cultivation along the Hamakua Coast ($173,000). More information on vegetables and root crops >>