KUKUI‘ULA — Kelvin Moniz, executive director of the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, said he’s already placed orders with Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau member farmers, including those participating in the weekly farmers’ market at The Shops at Kukui‘ula.
“We’re all set,” Moniz said. “The farmers know what we need, and all of those orders have already been placed. They know when they need to deliver.”
Moniz made it a point to shop the participating farmers from the farmers’ market at The Shops at Kukui‘ula, a partnership between the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau and The Shops at Kukui‘ula held Wednesday afternoons.
These orders are being set aside for the food distribution being spearheaded by The Shops at Kukui‘ula, KIFB with support from the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau and the Hawai‘i Lodging &and Tourism Association Kaua‘i branch.
The distribution will include a salad featuring freshy-caught ahi prepared by Chip Bahouth and the volunteers from the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort in Po‘ipu, a package of grocery items including pasta, canned soup and cereal, and fresh, local-grown produce including tomatoes, bananas, string beans, carrots and sweet potatoes, and will be held Friday in a drive-thru format at The Shops at Kukui‘ula starting at 4:30 p.m. in the mauka parking lot (the one used for the pop-up markets).
“There is no pre-registration for this distribution,” said Stacie Chiba-Miguel, general manager of The Shops at Kukui‘ula.
“It is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, until supplies run out. Our goal while planning this was to support our local South Shore community, many of whom are employed with the resorts and visitor-industry businesses, during this time of need.”
Earlier, Johnny Gordines, president of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau, presented a check for $2,500 to the KIFB, “to purchase product from KCFB-member farmers and bless the South Side community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic job losses in the visitor-related field,” he said.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
