Chef Babian presenting his farm-to-table wish list for locally grown crops (see list below). I was recently invited to attend a Farmers & Chef Symposium and Lunch held at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu in North Kona. This is the 3rd Annual event of its kind held at the hotel and serves as a way for Executive Chef James Babian and his staff to show their appreciation to the farmers, fishermen and other local purveyors who are the source of most of the food served by the hotel. The event started with a welcome from Robert Whitfield, General Manager, and Chef Jim then introduced several key people in the hotel's Food & Beverage Department.

Based on West Hawaii Today Food Ads from Sept. 2011 to Sept. 2012

 Supermarkets are increasing the percentage of local produce advertised. From 2009 to 2012 I have tracked the weekly food ads to discern any trends or major changes in the percentages of local produce to imported produce advertised in West Hawaii Today. The Big Island stores monitored include: KTA, Choice Mart, Foodland and Safeway.

Matt Thoman, Kitchen Manager, and Krista Donaldson, Sustainability Supervisor
Kona Brewing Company, Kailua-Kona, North Kona

Matt Thoman and Krista Donaldson at Kona Brewing Company, where supporting locally grown produce is a central part of their business philosophy.Kona Brewing Company was founded in 1993 by father and son team Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa with the philosophy of “living aloha.” Their company has grown to become the 13th largest craft brewery in the U.S. and their Kailua-Kona restaurant alone reaches $3.5 million dollars in gross revenue per year. With a policy of providing quality food and supporting the local community, about 65% of their produce comes from local sources. “To reach our sustainability goals, we can’t just rest on our successes. We are constantly looking for new produce sources and ways to innovate,” says Matt Thoman, kitchen manager.

Starting in the Hāmākua region of Hawai‘i Island, The Koala Center, in partnership with several local government agencies and academic institutions, will recruit, train, and support at least 40 new farmers over the next two years. The program will also help these new farmers develop business plans, secure farm leases, gain access to farm equipment and materials, and successfully produce, market, and distribute their crops. As part of this program there is a training site in Honoka‘a that will be used to teach successful farming practices.

For information and application, Click here

We're back at Amy Greenwell Garden!

South Kona Green Market, Sundays, 9-2, Grand Opening Sun., Nov. 25th

Great local fruit and vegetables, arts and crafts, live music, hot food, and One Island's green living showcase. Find us near the front entrance, every Sunday. In Captain Cook, at the Amy B. Greenwell Ethnobotanic Garden.  Support our local farmers and producers!

It is encouraging to see the different ways individuals are taking on the challenge to make locally grown and produced food available in their own districts of the island.

About six or seven months ago, Michael Scott of Ocean View, a member of the e-mail Yahoo group Big Island Self Sufficiency (BISS), in which I am also quite involved, mentioned that he and his wife, Melanie Baca, were working on plans to open a location next to their own Aloha Dreams computer business to sell produce and other fresh goods in Ocean View.

After doing research, obtaining permits and procuring the use of a commercial kitchen, Home Grown Hawai’i opened its doors on Saturday, September 1^st with a Grand Gala featuring music, an owner hosted barbecue and displaying produce and product from 12 different sources. Local vegetables, greens, herbs, fruit, coffee, eggs, homemade breads and other baked goods, jellies, jams, preserves, raw local honey, butter and feta cheese are just some of the items that can be found in the store.