LIHUE — Locally-produced products and the outlets which distribute them were pulled together on Thursday in an effort to re-energize the Kauai Grown program. “We can talk all day about sustainability and food security, but at the end of the
LIHUE — Locally-produced products and the outlets which distribute them were pulled together on Thursday in an effort to re-energize the Kauai Grown program.
“We can talk all day about sustainability and food security, but at the end of the day, if there’s no action, we’ve achieved nothing,” said Jerry Ornellas, president of the Kauai County Farm Bureau and a farmer who belongs to the Kauai Grown program. “This rollout and the retailers who are stepping up are taking action. That’s what we need right now.”
Starting at Ishihara Market on the Westside and spanning the area through Papaya’s on the Eastside, retailers took advantage of point-of-sale material to re-organize their displays and marketing strategies to emphasize the locally-produced Kauai Grown program.
Kauai Grown is an initiative of the County of Kauai and the Kauai County Farm Bureau, which promotes locally grown agricultural products and recognizes the farmers, ranchers, retailers and restaurants which bring these products to the consumer, states a news release.
Since being established in 2009, the Kauai Grown program now has more than 50 members representing agricultural producers, retailers and restaurants.
“The county is proud to be a partner in Kauai Grown,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., who issued certificates of recognition to Ishihara Market, Sueoka’s, Living Foods and Papaya’s for their respective efforts at promoting Kauai Grown. “This program is going to help us make big strides in our effort to become food self-sufficient and to help farming become economically viable on Kauai.”
During the rollout campaign, retailers and agricultural producers, including “Value Added” producers, were featured.
Beth Tokioka, county spokeswoman, said the point-of-sale materials which feature the different agricultural producers, agricultural features and other point of purchase facets were developed through the assistance of a Communities Putting Partnership to Work grant, which was provided to the bureau from Get Fit Kauai.
“It’s very exciting to be able to support the Kauai Grown program for several reasons,” said Bev Brody, the Get Fit Kauai director. “Buying local food not only supports local farmers and families, it also builds community, preserves open space, reduces the carbon footprint, and it is so healthy! The shorter time between the farm and table, the less likely nutrients will be lost. Kauai Grown is a great win-win program for everyone.”
Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser represented the county council, presenting a similar certificate from the council at each of the four retailers where producers of vegetables, fruit, beef, shrimp, pork and even jam (a value added product) were on hand to discuss their respective offerings.
Melissa McFerrin, the farm bureau executive administrator, said the goal of Kauai Grown is to help customers easily find products grown and produced on Kauai while recognizing the farmers and producers behind the products.
“Connecting farmers with consumers is our overarching goal,” McFerrin said, pointing out “the family” of producers, which anchor a re-designed produce section at Papaya’s.
Visit www.kauaigrown.org for more information on the Kauai Grown program and information on how to become part of the growing locally produced agricultural product program.
