Archive for the ‘North Kohala Eat Locally Grown’ Category
Craig Elevitch’s Local Pics of North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day
Monday, January 18th, 2010North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day was on Sat, Jan 16, 2010. An initiative that came out of the North Kohala Food Forum (www.nkfoodforum.com), restaurant owners Joan Channon (Bamboo), Karen Rosen (Kohala Coffee Mill), Peter Pomeranze (Sushi Rock) and farmer Tom Baldwin (Uluwehi Farms) wanted to feature local, North Kohala grown food in our local restaurants to raise community awareness about our locally grown foods and to create new connections with local farmers. Well- we did it! Hawi and Kapa’au town were abuzz with local foods this past Saturday. The initial idea grew to include other local restaurants and markets- Bamboo, Sushi Rock, Kohala Coffee Mill, Luke’s Place, Kava Kafe, Pico’s, Fig’s Mixed Plate, Snack Shack, Hawi Farmers Market, Takata’s- all who rocked the local food, drinks, and music! North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day started early at the Kohala Cofee Mill and the Hawi Farmers’ Market and ended late with local kava and local music at the Kava Cafe and Studio 54 at Sushi Rock! We ate, we danced, we raised awareness about local food and farmers!
Karen Rosen, owner of the Kohala Coffee Mill talking up the local specials- local roast beef sandwich, carrot ginger soup, asian wrap, local fruit smoothie and more!
Sushi Rock rolled up sushi rolls with local ingredients. Then they rocked Hawi at night with the Studio 54 dance party.
Visitors from California always eat at Bamboo when they come to the Big Island because they love the local flavors! When people come to Hawaii they want to experience the local flavors! Look out for the next wave- Hawi Regional Cuisine.
Takata's Store expanded the locally grown section and highlighted the local produce with signage.
Kukuipahu Ranch donated local citrus to Takata's Store- proceeds go to the North Kohala Community Learning Center. A great partnership!
Pico's was one of the restaurants who particpated in Eat Locally Grown Day. Taro chips, taro leaf spanikopita, sweet potatoe salad, and more...
Oliver & Tom Baldwin enjoying a locally grown lunch at Pico's. Tom helped coordinate the farmer's/buyer's market where restaurants ordered produce for Eat Locally Grown Day.
Local specials were highlighted at each restaurant.
In case you missed the signs coming into town!
Buyer’s Market a Part of North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
On January 8th local farmers came together with local restaurant owners who wanted to buy produce for North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day (Sat., Jan 16th). The restaurant owners initiated the Buyer’s Market because they felt that a “face to face” buyer/seller market was important for community building, that meeting in person would help create new relationships with growers, and build upon existing relationships. And it worked! Produce was sold, new relationships were made, plans for the future were discussed!
Come to North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day on Saturday, January 16th
-Restaurants will create specials using North Kohala produce, fish, and meats, and will incorporate as much North Kohala grown food as possible into their existing menus. Menus and signage will highlight the locals foods and farmers.
-Takata’s (our local food store) will be highlighting the local food they usually carry. In addition, Marc Kinoshita (Kukuipahu Ranch) has arranged for their farm to donate locally grown produce to Takata’s for that day and proceeds from the sales will go to the North Kohala Community Resource Center.
-The Hawi Farmers Market will have a “Made in Kohala” and “Grown in Kohala” tent on that day for local farmers (homesteads and commercial farms) to come and sell. They are also having a kohala grown plant give away.
-Kava Kafe will have a closing party featuring local Kava, local food and local music.
-Sushi Rock is having Studio 54- the after, after party!
Why are we doing this?
-Create more connections between local growers and local buyers, with an eye towards growing our local, sustainable, agricultural economy.
-Raise awareness in North Kohala about eating locally grown foods- the economic, health and community benefits. To ultimately create more local consumer demand for local foods.
-Support local restaurants and markets: Bring people to North Kohala on that day and encourage residents to eat/shop locally on that day.
Restaurant/Market Participants
Bamboo
Sushi Rock
Kohala Coffee Mill
Luke’s Place
Kava Kafe
Pico’s
Fig’s Mixed Plate
Hawi Farmers Market
Takata’s
North Kohala Food Forum Video Launched!
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Is your community interested in local food self-reliance? The North Kohala community came together on August 22nd at the North Kohala Food Forum to discuss how we can supply more of our food from local sources. Check out the North Kohala Food Forum video on You Tube:
Who Buys & Eats Locally Grown Food? Who Trades Food? North Kohala Survey Will Find Out!
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
On August 22, 2009, the North Kohala community convened the North Kohala Food Forum. The Food Forum focused on the commercial production, distribution and sale of food in the community. The Food Forum looked at consumption from the viewpoint of the local retailers, restaurants, & caterers.
The North Kohala Food Forum recognized that home food production, hunting, fishing and gathering are critical to overall food self-sufficiency in the community. In addition, the Forum recognized that there is a long-standing tradition of the informal sharing of food with one another. However, the measurement and discussion about how this informal economy contributes towards our community goal was beyond the scope of the North Kohala Food Forum. Gathering information on home food production and sharing was just too big a fish to fry.
Now, under the guidance of Guy Kaulukukui, Director of the Kohala Center’s Food Self-Reliance Project, student volunteers from the University of Hawaii-Hilo are conducting a pilot study in North Kohala surveying consumer behavior and preferences with regards to local food.
From the Kohala Center’s Guy Kaulukukui, Director of Food Self-Reliance Project:
North Kohala Consumer Food Survey
What:
Community canvassing to conduct a consumer survey looking at issues related to household consumption and production of food in North Kohala.
When:
On Saturday, October 17, 2009 between the hours of 10:30am and 3:30pm, volunteers will be going door-to-door in North Kohala to conduct the consumer survey.
Where:
North Kohala, focusing on residential areas between Kokoiki and Keokea.
Why:
The survey aims at gaining a better understanding of the North Kohala community’s consumer preferences as it relates to home production and consumption of FOOD. Results of this survey will help guide the North Kohala community in reaching it’s goal of producing 50 percent of the food that it consumes.
How:
Under the guidance of The Kohala Center, student volunteers from the University of Hawaii-Hilo will be distributing surveys to households in North Kohala. Surveys are in print form consisting of approximately 30 questions and should take approximately 10-15 minutes to fill out.
Mahalo in advance for allowing us in your community and for participating in the consumer survey.
