Apricots
Apricots are rarely grown commercially on Hawaiʻi Island, as they prefer more pronounced winter chills. A handful of backyard or hobby orchards experiment with low-chill cultivars in cooler districts.
Apricots demand distinct seasonal temperature swings to set fruit reliably, making successful harvests sporadic in most of Hawaiʻi’s tropical climate. Enthusiasts in areas like Waimea or Volcano occasionally report small yields from carefully selected varieties. Although local apricots are considered unique, they reach only limited markets—often as direct sales or personal consumption. Given the challenges of ensuring adequate chilling hours, commercial expansions are unlikely. Nonetheless, interest in temperate fruit experimentation persists, especially as researchers trial improved varieties for subtropical regions.