Local Food System Update
It shouldn't surprise us that more and more people are beginning to wake up about our food situation. Living in these islands, so far away from any other landmass, we are dependent on much of our food being imported and at the mercy of many whims of nature and man.
Farmers Markets & CSAs
Farmers Market Co-ops
We know that not all of us can farm or grow enough to maintain a booth of our own at any of the farmers markets, or have the time to do so, but here is a concept that started a bit over a year ago and now others are picking up in other areas.
There are several very enterprising people who are forming co-ops to sell whatever amount of produce/fruit/veggies you might have growing in your yards or farms w/o having to make a weekly commitment to rent or man your own booth at a market.
The concept is simple; you harvest your trees and the co-op picks up that harvest the evening before market or you drop it off at a pre-designated location. You set your price, they keep a % of sales, remaining costs and profits are split between members according to what sells each day.
The first one we know of was the Koa'e Community Co-op representing over 30 individuals or farmers and founded by Catarina Saragoza (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) who takes the collective produce/merchandise and sells it at the S.P.A.C.E. farmers market in Seaview. Check the Friday, November 25, 2011 blog post to see the impressive results in just a years' time.
The newest one we have heard of is the Maku'u Backyard Growers Co-op founded by Mary & Sean Jennings (982-8925 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) - this co-op has been patterned after the Koa'e Community Co-op and are actively looking for members to join and sell their harvests/products at the Maku'u Farmers Market, hopefully starting February 18th.
Recently, interest has been expressed to possibly start a co-op in the Honoka'a area. If this comes to be, I will be sharing the info with you. If interested in knowing more about this project let me know and I can put you in contact with the individuals who are interested in starting it.
If you know of other co-ops around the island that are collectively selling in our farmers markets, please let me know.
Community Gardens
A Ka'u Community Garden has already been started in donated lands. More information will be available when they are ready to open to the public for tours, workshops and so forth. http://www.kaucommunitygarden.
The Pahoa Community Garden is looking for volunteers for a Garden Work Party, March 10 from 3 pm until pau. See calendar announcement.
Let's Grow Hilo sponsored by the Downtown Improvement Association of Hilo is already up and running and making great strides in changing the landscape in several downtown areas.
Food Swaps
Individuals who are interested in small time bartering of food and related items such as food plants, seeds, cuttings; vegetables, fruits; preserves, jams, jellies; also livestock and derivatives such as milk, butter, cheese, eggs, etc. including homemade breads and other baked goods, are joining groups such as Share the Harvest a Big Island based Yahoo group where members can list/share their excess garden or backyard harvests with others and in turn receive the items they can't grow or make themselves.
If you're aware of any innovative enterprises expanding our local, sustainable food system, please let me know. Sonia Martinez, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sonia R. Martinez, the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network regular farmers market reporter, is a cookbook author and freelance food writer for several publications in Hawai'i, including The Hamakua Times of Honoka’a. She is a contributing writer for Edible Hawaiian Islands Magazine and has her own food & garden blog at soniatasteshawaii.com