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Category 24 of 25 · Hawaii

Vegetables

Fresh Whole & Cut Vegetables

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

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ What's Covered

  • Whole, uncut fresh vegetables sold direct at farm stands, farmers markets, and roadside stands as a raw agricultural commodity
  • Sweet potato is on the short list of fresh items permitted for mainland shipment after required treatment at a USDA-approved facility
  • Processed (cooked, dried, or solidly frozen) vegetables shipped mainland-bound, facing far fewer restrictions than fresh product
  • Selling to local retail/wholesale with basic traceability, even though whole produce itself is exempt from HDOH food permitting

✕ Needs More

  • Cutting, chopping, or otherwise processing vegetables for sale (pre-cut salad mix, sliced vegetables) — this becomes a TCS food requiring an HDOH-permitted kitchen
  • Mailing or shipping most fresh vegetables to the U.S. mainland without APHIS treatment/certification — most fresh vegetables are prohibited due to invasive pest risk
  • Interisland shipment of host vegetables during an active HDOA pest quarantine without required inspection
  • Assuming fresh-cut vegetables carry the same exemption as whole produce — they do not

How to Get Compliant

A

Sell whole and fresh, direct

Whole fresh vegetables sold as-is need no HDOH food permit — they're a raw agricultural commodity.

B

Check APHIS rules before any mainland shipment

Very few fresh vegetables (e.g., treated sweet potato) may ship to the mainland; most others are prohibited fresh and must be processed (cooked/dried/frozen solid) first.

C

Get an HDOH permit if you cut or process it

Chopped, mixed, or otherwise prepared vegetables become a TCS food requiring a licensed kitchen and food establishment permit.

Quick Reference

Sales ChannelRequirementNotes
Whole fresh vegetables, on-island direct saleNo HDOH permitRaw agricultural commodity exemption
Chopped/mixed fresh vegetablesHDOH food establishment permitTCS product once cut
Fresh vegetables shipped to mainlandAPHIS treatment/certificationNearly all fresh vegetables prohibited untreated
Cooked, dried, or solid-frozen vegetables, shippedStandard commercial food rulesProcessing removes most APHIS shipping restrictions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell whole sweet potatoes or greens at a farm stand with no permit?
Yes — whole, uncut fresh vegetables sold direct are a raw agricultural commodity and don't need an HDOH food permit.
Can I mail fresh vegetables to family on the mainland?
Almost none can ship fresh; treated sweet potato is one narrow exception via a USDA-approved facility. Most fresh vegetables are prohibited outright.
What if I want to sell pre-cut vegetable trays at a market?
You'll need an HDOH food establishment permit — cutting vegetables creates a TCS product outside the raw-commodity exemption.
Does interisland shipping need HDOA inspection?
It can, especially for vegetables tied to an active quarantine pest — check current HDOA notices before shipping between islands.

Printable Checklist