Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022

Kaʻū Coffee farmer Berta Miranda shares the story of building her family business as Taiwan

buyers listen during a trade mission to Kaʻū and other coffee growing regions. Photo by Julia Neal

A TRADE MISSION FROM TAIWAN recently visited Kaʻū. Hawai'i Coffee Association reported on Monday that Synergistic Hawai'i Agriculture Council representatives hosted a group of coffee buyers, roasters, and company executives from Taiwan who visited coffee farms and venues in Ka'u, Kona and Hilo, as well as Honolulu.
    Among those who met with Kaʻū Coffee Farmers at Pahala Plantation House and visited Kaʻū Coffee Mill and area farms was Alex C. Lei, Executive Director for the State of Hawai'i Office in the Taipei World Trade Center. Lei has worked in Taiwan on behalf of this state for more than two decades, helping to foster trade.

Alex Lei led a mission to Kaʻū
to promote the buying of local
coffee. Photo by Julia Neal

    Also from Taiwan were representatives of some of the country's, largest coffee buyers, roasters, wholesalers, retailers and owners of chains of coffee shops. Among the manufacturers is the Mr. Brown brand, which is sold in cans and found in stores in Kaʻū. Also represented were high-end coffee sellers who said the Taiwan market has matured for expensive coffees like those produced in Kaʻū.

     During the trade mission event, which was partially funded by the federal government, Kaʻū Coffee farmers told the stories of building their industry. Representatives from Taiwan told the stories of building their coffee businesses. They all met at Pahala Plantation House after the presentations to talk about building trade between them.

    According to the Hawai'i Coffee Association statement, SHAC Board reps Ralph Gaston and Madeleine Longoria Garcia coordinated the trip in partnership with the State of Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism offices in Honolulu and Taipei. 

    In addition to the trade meeting at Pahala Plantation House, there were several opportunities for growers to connect to forge business relationships and increase Hawai'i coffee knowledge and exports to Taiwan. "We look forward to the benefits of this trip in the coming years," said the Hawai'i Coffee Association statement.

Buyers from Taiwan recently visited Kaʻū and other coffee regions in a trade mission sponsored
by state and federal agencies. Photo from Hawai'i Coffee Association

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A FOOD PROCESSING GRANT has been issued to Hawai'i Island non-profit Olohana Foundation, which recently purchased aseptic legacy juice processing equipment to make food puree products. The $101,491 grant for its project, Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruits: Adding Value for Shared Abundance, is for a year-long prototype program for processing puree products from locally grown, soft-skin fruit that might
otherwise go to waste in the absence of a market for them. The puree's will go to the public initially through The Food Basket's Da Box and Hawai'i Farm to Car.

    Project co-directors Carly Wyman and Keahi Tajon in partnership with Arizona State University examined strategies for re-establishing the juice processing equipment on this island. Olohana announced Monday that it invites local partners and investors to submit proposals to expand and strengthen the project and increase impact. “This is an opportunity to leverage our investments,” said Sarah Purgus, Executive Director of the Olohana Foundation. “It’s an economic opportunity that bodes well for all involved.”  

    Sen. Mazie Hirono issued a statement this week, announcing funding of $101,491. The US Dept. of Agriculture's Local Foods Production Program oversees the money and issued a statement:

    "The Hawaiian islands lack adequate food processing infrastructure for increased food self-sufficiency and food security for residents and visitors alike. Meanwhile, Hawai'i’s small farmers (66% of farms are under 9 acres in size) struggle to make a profit, facing the highest production costs in the US.    

Soft skinned fruits will be made into
a puree to sell, in order to reduce
food waste and help small farmers.
Photo from Olohana Foundation

    "The purpose of this project is to address these twin challenges of lack of food processing capacity for local crops, and increasing profits for small farmers through adding value to local crops.               "The Olohana Foundation recently acquired legacy industrial juicing equipment which we wish to put into operation once again, providing a valuable option to local farmers for adding value to their tropical fruit crops and reducing on-farm food waste. In collaboration with local fruit producers, this project will pilot the production of two new local value-added fruit products utilizing food processing equipment.        "These final food products will be routed directly into the local food system via the Food Basket: Hawai’i Island’s food bank, and Hawai’i Farm to Car farmers market. By developing these two new fruit products, this project will be directly growing the mid-tier value chain infrastructure for Hawaiʻi Island and beyond, increasing local capacity for aggregation, processing and distribution. An estimated 33 local fruit producers will benefit from this new market for their crops, including B grade crops, which will help to reduce on-farm food waste. Additionally, this project will reach an estimated 452 local consumers, providing an affordable, local and healthy food option." 

   Olohana is based in Pauilo. Parties, islandwide, may submit collaboration proposals to info@olohana.org.

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FRIENDS OF HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK celebrates its 25th anniversary of supporting the park by hosting a December events at Kahuku unit on the Kona side of Kaʻū.
    Holidays at Kahuku will be Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p. Local craft booths for holiday gifts, hula, music, food booths, and free shave ice and face painting will be offered.
    A Coffee Talk presentation about hāhā, a critically endangered endemic Hawaiian plant, will be held Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the Visitor Contact Station. Learn about the plant and what the Park is doing to save it from extinction.
    December is the last month of the Kūkini Challenge. Hikers and walkers can turn in miles, recording them at the Visitor Contact Station for a chance to win a silver water flask and accolades for the fourth quarter of 2022.
    Kahuku will be closed on Christmas and New Yearʻs days. "We wish you all the happiest of holidays and a Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou!" said ranger Wendy Scott-Vance.

   

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.