Hawaii Tropical Fruit & Tree Crop Insurance

USDA-Backed crop insurance is available to Coffee, Banana, and Papaya Growers in two policy forms:

• Hawaii Tropical Fruit (Production Guarantee)
  Production guarantee based upon historical average production
• Hawaii Tropical Tree (Dollar Coverage)
  Tree coverage, offering a dollar amount of coverage against insurable damage to trees

Deadline to Apply is January 1 preceding the crop year.

Unavoidable damage or loss caused by:

• Adverse weather conditions
• Insects, disease, or wildlife UNLESS loss is due to insufficient or improper control measures (nematodes not covered on any coffee tree acreage less than 5 years old)
• Fire due to natural causes (when weeds or undergrowth are controlled, pruning debris removed from the field)
• Volcanic eruption, Earthquake, Tsunami
• Failure of irrigation water supply due to insured causes listed above
• Destruction of Live Trees, to control spread of disease and as authorized by insurance provider

• CATASTROPHIC (CAT) COVERAGE
  Available for a fee of $300 per county, with no additional premium paid by you. This level of coverage is subsidized 100% by the USDA. The deductible is 50% with an additional price (or payment adjustment) factor of 55%.
• BUY-UP COVERAGE
  Coverage levels with deductibles of 25% to 50% are also available. The USDA subsidizes the premiums.

Crops must be grown for human consumption in an orchard acceptable to the insurance provider; have acceptable records of production history. 

• Bananas acreage will be insurable Jan. 1 following the year of tree setout;
• Papaya: Acreage will be insurable if it is at least 9 months old (12 months for Kapoho variety) and less than 4 years old on December 31 preceding the crop year;
• Coffee acreage that has reached age 3 years on December 31 preceding the crop year will be insurable.

Comprehensive Tree Value Endorsement
(Coffee Trees and Papaya Trees Only)
Provides an additional benefit for:    

• Papaya: payable in full at the time the Tree Coverage is paid or;
• Coffee: 50% payable at the time land has been cleared and the soil treatment (for land replanted to coffee) has been completed; 50% payable at the time the land has been replanted to coffee trees, another tropical tree crop, or any perennial crop.
• Occurrence Loss Option (Coffee Trees Only):
  Changes the deductible to a per tree basis, once the percentage of dead or destroyed trees exceeds 3%. If indemnity is due, increases the amount.

Coverage Period Begins January 1, 2010 and ends May 31, 2011.

There is a 30 day waiting period for coverage to begin for applications received between December 2 and January 1.

1. Application for Fruit and/or Trees
2. Yield Report establishing average production (Fruit Only)
3. Acreage Report
4. Producer’s Pre-Acceptance Worksheet detailing acreage data, tree counts, planting dates, etc.
5. Pre-acceptance inspection, carrier finds the acreage acceptable

This website provides limited information, and the information herein cannot be considered an offer or guarantee of insurance coverage.  Contact AgSecure for more information on programs in your area.