Episode 6 – Claire Sullivan
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Claire Sullivan has dedicated her career to developing a culturally, ecologically, and economically vibrant local food system in Hawaiʻi. Over the past 20+ years she has witnessed a lot: the final chapter of plantation agriculture at Maui Land & Pine, the rise and fall of local sourcing at Whole Foods Market, food sovereignty in action at MAʻO Organic Farms, and what it looks like when we build our own local food system infrastructure at Farm Link Hawaiʻi.
In this episode of Pilali, cohosts Ashley and Wren 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.