Haleiwa Market Earns Grant To Promote Crops
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Del.icio.usHaleiwa Farmers’ Market, in partnership with Living Breath LLC, plans to have six festivals promoting Hawaii specialty crops, thanks to a $378,728.69 federal grant that’s supporting 13 programs across the state.
Owners and founders of the market, Annie Suite and Pamela Boyar, say the festivals are planned for every other month throughout 2010 in coordination with the crop’s harvest season in hopes of creating a better understanding and appreciation for cacao, tropical flowers, tomatoes, tropical fruits, taro and herbs.
Each festival will include food samplings from local chefs, recipe contests with guest judges, book signings, nutritional counseling and experimental learning opportunities. Attendees also will have the chance to visit a nearby North Shore farm.
“We received just under $40,000 as part of the Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” Suite said.“Many times consumers who go to the markets are not familiar with the different crops being sold and do not know how to prepare them.
“By bringing in local chefs to do cooking demonstrations and to provide recipes to use with the crops, consumers will be more likely to purchase these special items instead of just going to the local supermarket and purchasing the items that they are more familiar with.”
As advocates for the small farmer, Suite and the rest of the Haleiwa Farmers’ Market team believe that with an increased awareness and consumption of crops, more land will be dedicated to growing food and supporting the local economy.
“Hawaii is like no other state in terms of the types of diversified crops that its farmers have been producing. Ultimately, we want to see our ag lands producing all the nutritious, healthy food we need to consume,” Boyar said.
And with an increase in diabetes and obesity, awareness is key.
“With the inclusion of nutritional counseling, cooking demonstrations, food sampling and recipe contests, the attendees will have multiple ways to integrate these healthy foods into their daily food habits,” Suite explained.
“We feel honored to have received this grant,” added Boyar. “We are dedicated to the small family farmer and to keeping sustainable agriculture alive and thriving on this island. These festivals create health-awareness in a fun, inviting atmosphere and have the potential to initiate huge change in the food practices of attendees.”
The market also is applying for an additional grants to help with the festivals.
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