Hawaii has dropped in the ranking of availability of locally-produced food, according to Vermont-based local food advocacy group Strolling of the Heifers’ 2013 Locavore Index. Hawaii came in at no. 13 for availability and consumption of local food, down from no. 5 the previous year.

The ranking of all 50 states is based on several factors including access to farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture initiatives (CSAs). The ranking also takes into account the number of “food hubs” that help farmers distribute their produce to customers. Results were adjusted on a per capita basis.

In the full Index, Hawaii is purported to have 88 farmers markets, 22 CSAs, and zero food hubs.

Vermont came in at no. 1, followed by Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Iowa. The lowest-ranking states were Nevada, Arizona, Lousiana, Florida and Texas.

Although it’s not completely clear why Hawaii dropped in the ranking from 2012, Index coordinator Martin Langeveld notes on their website that the metrics the Index uses has changed and will continue to change from year to year. For example, food hubs were not included in the 2012 Locavore Index data. Hawaii was noted as having 85 farmers markets and 135 CSAs that year.

Photo credit: Flickr user nemuneko.jc.

— Alice Terry