Prior to World War II, nearly every family in Guam farmed or gardened in some form. The US military land takings and dramatic changes to Guam’s economy led to a sharp decline in local farming.

By 2007 the Department of Agriculture counted only 104 active farms on the island. There has been a resurgence in the past decade with more and more people interested in small-scale farming. By 2018, the Department counted 267 farms, with their combined acreage totaling 2,441 acres or roughly 2% of Guam’s total land mass.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing most local farmers to lose their markets with local grocery stories and hotels, it also nurtured new interest in it. With the rising cost of living and persistent supply chain shortages, more people have turned to small-scale farming as a small business and to support their families.

Biba i Manlancheru yan lanchera!