For an archipelago that once relied almost completely on exports, Hawaii’s farms are now true treasures that abound across the islands. And doing what Hawaii does best, a plethora of its farms have melded agriculture with tourism, offering travellers farm tours on each major island. These farm tours feature a range of what are now local Hawaiian products. Here’s a list of some of the best farm tours your clients can find on Hawaii.

Oahu
Kahuku Farms has a long history on Oahu, dating back to the 1940s. Two Japanese immigrant families, who came to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations, began separate farms which then merged to become Kahuku Farms, a company that grows and distributes Hawaii wholesale fruits and vegetables. Today travellers can tour Kahuku Farms and choose from a variety of tour options that include the Smoothie Tour — a 30-minute wagon ride tour of the Papaya, Apple and Banana Farms at Kahuku Farm, which finishes with a fresh fruit smoothie. Kahuku Farms’ Grand Tour takes visitors through the wide variety of fruits and veggies offered at the farm and teaches guests about what it takes for farmers to put fresh food on Hawaii’s supermarket shelves. For more visit kahukufarms.com.

At Kualoa Ranch and Zipline there is a wide variety of tours available to travellers, from movie site tours to a secret island beach activities tour — but one not to be missed is the Taste of Kualoa Farm to Table Tour. On this tour travellers will have the opportunity to learn about the various food products grown, harvested and sold by Kualoa Private Nature Reserve — a 4,000-acre property spread across three valleys on the windward coast of Oahu. Papayas, bananas and other fruit make up one category of this tour but on this farm-to-table tasting tour guests will also visit the reserve’s shrimp and tilapia ponds as well as its fresh oyster farm. From there, it’s on to ranch lands to view the reserve’s 500+ head of grass-fed cattle. On this tour guests will also learn how to “throw net,” to catch fish like Hawaiian’s once did, as well as take a lesson on how to rope cattle. This tour is offered in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter van. For more visit kualoa.com.

Maui
For an exotic fruit experience on Maui, travellers can take a beautiful walking tour of West Maui’s Maui Dragon Fruit Farm. This USDA-certified organic farm specializes in growing 16 distinct varieties of dragon fruit, as well as bananas, papayas, sugarcane and pineapples. Maui Dragon Fruit Farm’s family friendly tour is about one hour in duration and features fresh picked fruit as seasonally available. Maui Dragon Fruit Farm also offers special adventure tours and activities for families, including zipline and aquaball. For more visit maudragonfruit.com.

It may not be the tour travellers would expect to take on Maui but Ocean Organic Vodka features a Hawaii Sea Spirits Organic Farm & Distillery Tour that will sure to please visitors hoping for a tour and drink along the way. Ocean Organic Vodka is a family run business, with a passion for sustainability. With a mission to create the best vodka in the world, Ocean Organic Vodka is now marketed in 36 states as well as in Canada, South America and Asia. On Ocean Organic Vodka’s farm and distillery tour guests will learn about sustainable sugar cane farming practices, visit the farm’s 6,000-square foot solar-powered warehouse and bottling centre and view the farm’s organic spirits production using 60-foot column still distillation. This tour finishes with a walk through The Martini Garden – designed with martini lovers in mind. Guests will also enjoy a sampling on this tour with a take-home Ocean organic Vodka souvenir. Visit oceanvodka.com for more.

Kauai
On the North Shore of the Garden Isle travellers will find Kauai Kunana Dairy. During a guided visit of this this family run, goat dairy farm, guests will sample goat cheese while tour guides take guests through the farm’s cheese making procedures. Guests will also be able to interact with the farm’s family of goats and stroll through the organic tropical fruit orchards – with mango, avocado, lychee, citrus, breadfruit and more. Guests will also learn about Kauai Kunana Dairy’s organic vegetable and herb garden and sample some of the farm’s honey as well. Visit kauaikunanadairy.com.

What trip to Kauai would be complete without a visit to the Kauai Coffee Club? Formerly McBryde Sugar, these farmlands have been active since the late 1800s with the Kauai Coffee Company planting its first coffee trees in 1987. Visitors to Kauai Coffee (just a few miles from Poipu) can partake in a free, guided walking tour to learn about the five different coffee varietals grown on the estate, as well as the entire coffee process from initial blossoming through to roasting beans. Guests on the farm can also pop into the Visitor Centre for a sample of Kauai Coffee’s entire line. Guided tours of Kauai Coffee are available everyday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Visit kauaicoffee.com for more.

Hawaii Island
Mauna Loa is an ideal stop in for visitors to Hawaii Island (especially those with a sweet tooth). Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation has been producing macadamia nuts and nut products for over thirty years. Stopping in at the visitor centre to grab some gifts for friends and family back home (and some for clients to take home themselves). Though Mauna Loa doesn’t offer scheduled farm tours, visitors will drive through a three-mile nut orchard to get the Visitor Center where they can then view Mauna Loa’s nut and chocolate processing plant. At the Visitor Center guests can also watch Mauna Loa’s staff create a variety of its famous macadamia nut products — including hand-dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies. For more information visit maunaloa.com.

There is a plethora of farm tours featuring a wide variety of products – from chocolate to abalone – for travellers to visit while on Hawaii Island. Another farm tour that travellers might not expect to find is with Hawaiian Vanilla Company, the first commercial growers of vanilla in the U.S. This family owned and operated business offers a Vanilla Experience Luncheon & Farm Tour at 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. On this tour guests will enjoy a gourmet lunch featuring an array of vanilla-flavoured menu items, like a vanilla citrus bourbon chicken sandwich and oven-roasted potatoes finished with a Vanilla Southwest Rub. After lunch guests will take a walking tour of the farm and finish off with a scoop of Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. The Hawaiian Vanilla Company’s shop is also open Monday through Saturday for visitors to purchase the farm’s wide-array of homemade vanilla products. Visit the vanillachef.com for more.