LIHU‘E — Sam Henriques said she’s been waiting for two years to get a clove tree that she earned through a random drawing at the Kaua‘i Farm Fair Tribute on Saturday at Kukui Grove Center.
“I just want the freebies,” said a wheelchair-bound spectator. “When is the judging for the Fruit and Vegetable Show? Aren’t they giving away anything after the judging?”
Mayette Loseto, one of the show’s blue ribbon winners, said she got donations of more than 500 pounds of freshly harvested sweet potato from Xing Lono Farm and 250 ears of fresh corn from Aloun Farm that was given away by “as much as you can carry — no packages.”
There were no shortages of takers, as hundreds of people flowed through the Kaua‘i Farm Fair Tribute, which included the Fruit and Vegetable Show, special exhibits by the Kaua‘i Bonsai Club and the Garden Island Orchid Society, including sales of select bonsai or orchid plants and a scattering of more than a handful of vendors spread throughout the shopping center.
Sakda Meephol Farms was the big winner of judging after securing enough points to earn Best in Show honors for their mango and bell pepper submissions. Meephol Farms also earned a Judges Choice special award for its apple banana submission.
Other winners in Best in Show included Monica Moore for her butter lettuce, and her son, Brody Moore who was awarded Best in Show for his red cabbage microgreens.
“This is not bad,” Monica said. “Going from a certified dietition to becoming a farmer. My husband is going to be thrilled. And my son who is not here because he’s playing soccer, I can’t wait to let him know.”
The Judges Choice awards, affectionately called Green Ribbon Awards, were created by Inkspot Printing on specially designed green ribbons said Laurie Ho, president of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau.
Joining the Meephol Farms, Linda Silva earned a green ribbon for her Meyer lemons, Sandra Henmi’s daikon was decorated with a green ribbon and Wirat Yotachai received a Green Ribbon for his white pineapple that formed the base of smoothies he prepared for a flow of shoppers, including special guest Hawai‘i Farm Bureau President Brian Miyamoto.
There was no judging involved with the bonsai or orchids, but that did not stop the flow of shoppers trying to find new and special additions to their home collections.
The Kaua‘i Farm Fair Tribute is a collaborative effort by the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau, Kukui Grove Center and a lot of community sponsors, including the University of Hawai‘i CTAHR, the Department of Agriculture and more.
I was disappointed in the Farm Bureau Fair. I wish they offered more help for Kauai people trying to grow fruits and vegetables…. also wish they had support to provide more active vegetative management for guinea grass for fire prevention on Kauai…..