HONOLULU (June 9, 2022) – Macadamia nuts are the heart of our business – they are a star ingredient in many of our delicious Hawaiian Host, Mauna Loa, and KOHO products. This week, we were lucky to have Nathan and Andrew Trump of Island Harvest share the ins and outs of farming macadamia nuts in Hawai‘i with our team.
Island Harvest is one of our long-term local macadamia nut suppliers, who we have partnered with for over 20 years. A family owned-business, James Trump founded Island Harvest’s 700-acre farm in Kohala on the Island of Hawai‘i in 1991. Today, Nathan and Andrew help their father run the farm and manage the business. Nathan serves as Island Harvest’s General Manager, and Andrew as Vice President. Below is a look at what our team learned during the engaging Lunch & Learn that Nathan and Andrew hosted for us.
Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts: A Living Legacy
The history of macadamia nuts in Hawai‘i is a special one with roots that run deep. While macadamia nut trees are native to Australia, Hawai‘i really is the birthplace of the commercial macadamia nut industry.
Macadamias were first introduced to Hawai‘i in the late 1800s, and in 1922, the first semi-commercial orchards were planted at Nutridge Estate on O‘ahu and ‘Iole on the Island of Hawai‘i, now farmed by Island Harvest. Since then, Hawaiian macadamia nuts have made their mark on the world. To this day, many commercial macadamias can trace their origins to the trees planted at the Nutridge orchard, and many of Island Harvest’s ‘Iole trees are still the original trees planted.
Nathan also showed our team photos of 100-year old trees and shared, “These were some of the first commercial plantings grown in the State of Hawai‘i. Amazingly, these trees are still producing delicious nuts which bodes well for the longevity of the industry.”
Around the world, Hawaiian macadamia nuts are renowned for their buttery flavor and unmatched quality. That special flavor comes as a result of the unique growing environment Hawai‘i provides. The Islands’ naturally nutrient-rich, fertile soil, mature orchards, low pesticide use, and annual rainfall provide near perfect conditions to grow some of the tastiest macadamia nuts in the world.
Looking to the Future
Nathan and Andrew also shared their hopes for the future of the macadamia industry. While there are challenges those in the industry face, at the same time, there is great potential for the sector to continue to grow and further expand. They feel that the industry’s continued success will come as farmers develop improved efficiencies to grow and gather nuts, and companies including Hawaiian Host Group continue to push the industry forward with innovation. Product innovations like our Macadamia Milk Ice Cream help drive and sustain the market need for macadamia nuts which farms like Island Harvest can then supply for.
“In order to keep the local Hawaiian agricultural community alive and for local farmers to continue to survive and thrive, it will be crucial that we work together and continue to partner with companies like HHG to support each other and re-energize the macadamia industry. United, we can succeed together.” – Andrew Britton Trump
As HHG continues to share the Spirit of Hawai‘i with the world and further drive demand for macadamia nuts with our delectable macadamia treats and snacks, we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Island Harvest family.
Learn More and Get Involved
Check out Island Harvest’s offerings and learn more about the work they do at IslandHarvestHawaii.com. Get involved with the Hawai‘i Macadamia Nut Association and support the future of Hawai‘i’s macadamia farmers & industry by emailing Nathan at Nathan@islandharvesthawaii.com.
Mahalo to Nathan and Andrew for spending time with our team this week!
