AB-13 Production Costs of Selected Vegetable Crops in Hawaii (Cabbage, Cucumber, Green Onion, and Lettuce)

Costs of production were surveyed for Chinese cabbage, head cabbage, cucumber, green onion, baby lettuce, and lettuce with the participation of farmers on Oahu and Maui. The survey was done between fall 1998 and spring 1999. Why is cost of production important? Agriculture is a dynamic enterprise, and Hawaii’s agri culture is in the midst of change and revitalization. The agricultural component of Hawaii’s economy has shifted from sugarcane and pineapple production on large plan tations toward a diverse range of crops and farm sizes. Hawaii’s agricultural entrepreneurs together face a dif ficult competitive environment, because most of the agricultural produce sold in Hawaii is imported from areas where costs of production generally are lower. The new diversity in Hawaii’s agriculture has also mean