LIHUE The County of Kauai has launched the Kupuna Kare of Farmer Fare program in an effort to deliver fresh, Kauai-grown produce directly to kupuna.
LIHU‘E — The County of Kauai has launched the “Kupuna Kare of Farmer Fare” program in an effort to deliver fresh, Kaua‘i-grown produce directly to kupuna.
This effort pairs Kaua‘i’s Sunshine Market vendors, the Hawai‘i Food Bank Kaua‘i branch and the county Office of Economic Development and Office and Elderly Affairs. This program will acquire produce from Sunshine Market farmers and distribute to high-risk kupuna over the age of 70 throughout the island.
The AEA will provide intake for kupuna wishing to participate. The OED, part of the Mayor’s Office, will do intake on farmers wishing to participate.
The program will also utilize a partner, the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i branch, to purchase produce from farmers, prepare packages and perform distribution.
To prevent the spread of disease, this program has been designed to be drop-off only, with no interaction between the deliverers and recipients.
“We are pleased to roll out a partnership to support two specific groups — our kupuna who are part of our high-risk population and our county farmers who have been displaced by the Sunshine Markets closures,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami. “This effort shows how the tenacity and innovativeness of our community can lead to solutions that help one another as we enter a very difficult economic time.”
Anyone 70 or older wishing to participate may call AEA, 241-4470. Farmersw wishing to participate may call the OED, 241-4299.
