Announcing a new CSA in Puna.  Kalapana Organics will provide weekly delivery of year-around and seasonal vegetables, fruits, and homemade value-added products.

See poster for details:  Click here

For complete information call Jackie Prell at  938-5864

A new publication entitled "Hawai'i Island Farmer's Guide to Accessing Local Markets" gives both novice and experienced farmers a leg up in developing and expanding their sales. From a farmer's perspective, the information found within the guide will help answer questions such as, "What crops should I grow?", and, "Who should I market to?" The guide reveals critical protocols and strategies on accessing and retaining markets based on the advice of 31 Hawai'i Island producers, processors, distributors, and retailers highlighted in the guide. Published by Hawai‘i Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training, Center for Agricultural Success, and Permanent Agriculture Resources, the guide was conceived of and co-authored by Waipi'o taro farmer Jim Cain, who has been working for many years to re-invigorate local food production in Hamakua by training new farmers. Download a pdf file of the new 76-page publication here.

Please consider donating your excess breadfruit to the project.The Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu project, led by Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network (HHFN) and the Breadfruit Institute (BFI) of the National Tropical Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the launch of Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger pilot project. This fall, as soon as the breadfruit is mature, the Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger pilot will begin harvesting breadfruit that is not being used and distributing it through social service agencies to Hawai'i Island families who are food insecure.

According to a HHFN survey, people who grow breadfruit reported that 46% is wasted. At the same time, since the economic downturn of 2008, many families are food insecure—lacking access to affordable and nutritious food. Breadfruit is a local, abundant and nutritious food that can be used to alleviate hunger in Hawai'i.

Healthy, mulched soil is dark, has good structure, and holds moisture (left), whereas bare soil has poor structure and loses moisture faster.Decomposing organic materials are the primary source of fertility in tropical organic gardens. The richest source of organic materials is plant matter such as tree and garden trimmings, grass clippings, weeds, and kitchen scraps. These can be used directly in the garden as mulch or indirectly after composting. Mulch is a layer of decomposing organic matter on the soil surface. Mulching improves nutrient and water retention in the soil, encourages favorable soil microbial activity and worms, and suppresses weed growth. When properly done, mulching can significantly improve the well being of plants and reduce maintenance as compared to bare soil culture.

High quality chocolate production can be done on a small scale.Popular worldwide, chocolate and many other products are produced from the fruit of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Two of the main commercial products obtained from the specially processed beans of cacao fruit are cocoa liquor and cocoa butter, which are mixed with other ingredients such as sugar and milk to produce chocolate. When cocoa liquor is pressed to remove most of the butter, the resulting press cake when dried is called cocoa powder (10–25% fat), which is used in beverages, cakes, and cookies. Cocoa butter also has applications in cosmetics and soaps. In certain countries traditional beverages are also consumed locally made from processing cocoa beans at home. The white, sweet and sour cocoa pulp surrounding the beans in their pod is extracted to prepare beverages.