← Back to full Hawaii guide index
Category 10 of 25 · Hawaii

Fruits

Fresh Whole & Cut Fruit

Farm Exempt (Fresh) — Quarantine Applies to Shipping
No permit
Whole fresh fruit
HDOH permit
Cut fruit
HDOA / APHIS
Agency
Off-island shipping
Key risk

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ What's Covered

  • Whole, uncut fresh fruit sold direct at farm stands, farmers markets, and roadside stands as a raw agricultural commodity
  • Fresh pineapple and coconut may be shipped to the U.S. mainland after required treatment/inspection
  • Papaya, banana, dragon fruit, lychee, and several other listed fruits may ship to the mainland if treated at a USDA-approved facility and properly sealed
  • Processed (cooked, dried, or solidly frozen) fruit shipped mainland-bound, which faces far fewer restrictions than fresh fruit

✕ Needs More

  • Cutting, peeling, or otherwise processing fruit for sale (fruit salad, sliced mango) — this crosses into TCS food requiring an HDOH-permitted kitchen
  • Mailing or shipping most fresh fruit to the U.S. mainland without APHIS treatment/certification — many species are outright prohibited due to invasive pest risk (e.g., untreated mango, avocado, citrus)
  • Interisland shipment of fruit carrying live pests without HDOA agricultural inspection where required by a current quarantine (e.g., certain host fruits during an active pest quarantine)
  • Selling to a retail store without basic food-safety/traceability practices, even though whole produce itself is exempt from HDOH permitting

How to Get Compliant

A

Sell whole and fresh, direct

Whole fresh fruit sold as-is at a farm stand, market, or direct order needs no HDOH food permit — it's a raw agricultural commodity.

B

Check APHIS rules before any mainland shipment

Only specific treated/certified fruits (pineapple, coconut, and a short list of tropical fruits via approved treatment facilities) may ship fresh to the mainland; most others are prohibited or must be processed (cooked/dried/frozen solid) first.

C

Get an HDOH permit if you cut or process it

Sliced, mixed, or otherwise prepared fruit becomes a TCS food requiring a licensed kitchen and food establishment permit.

Quick Reference

Sales ChannelRequirementNotes
Whole fresh fruit, on-island direct saleNo HDOH permitRaw agricultural commodity exemption
Sliced/mixed fresh fruitHDOH food establishment permitTCS product once cut
Fresh fruit shipped to mainlandAPHIS treatment/certificationMost species prohibited untreated; few exceptions
Cooked, dried, or solid-frozen fruit, shippedStandard commercial food rulesProcessing removes most APHIS shipping restrictions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell whole mangoes at a farm stand with no permit?
Yes — whole, uncut fresh fruit sold direct is a raw agricultural commodity and does not need an HDOH food permit.
Can I mail fresh lychee or mango to family on the mainland?
Only certain fruits (pineapple, coconut, and a specific list including lychee) can ship fresh if treated at a USDA-approved facility and properly boxed; most fresh produce is prohibited from interstate shipment otherwise.
What if I want to sell cut fruit cups at a market?
You'll need an HDOH food establishment permit — cutting fruit creates a TCS product outside the cottage/raw-commodity exemptions.
Does interisland shipping need HDOA inspection?
It can, especially for fruit hosts tied to an active quarantine pest (check current HDOA notices); always verify before shipping between islands.

Printable Checklist