Categorized | Agriculture, Featured, News

North Kohala Food Forum urges growin’ local

 

Andrea Dean/Special to Hawaii247
How does a community move towards producing 50 percent of its own food? On Saturday, Aug. 22, about 200 North Kohala residents came together at the North Kohala Food Forum to find out. 
The Food Forum began by surveying about 70 people in the food community in these categories: food retailers, commercial food growers, commercial and institutional buyers, government-planning-education, and infrastructure managers. 
In the morning session, facilitators Bob Martin, Andrea Dean, Forrest Arnold and Guy Kaulukukui focused on “defining the gap” – the reasons North Kohala does not supply more of the food the community consumes. 
Some key findings on the commercial production side are:
*  Local commercial food producers grow 80 percent of the varieties needed. 
However, local food production volume appears to be relatively low.
* Only 39 percent of our 28 commercial food producers make their living producing food.
* Only half of our food producers are financially successful.
* 68 percent of the produced food is sold, 12 percent is bartered.
* 70 percent of local producers are exporting food out of North Kohala
On the consumption side of the equation:
* Local food represents 1 percent of local retail food sales, and about 8% of local restaurant & caterer sales.
Overall, the North Kohala Food Forum survey data points to the conclusion local food represents only 2-4 percent of all food consumed in North Kohala.  
As Martin pointed out, “Houston, we have a problem!” 
Dean facilitated the afternoon session, which focused on identifying collaborations. 
The following initiatives emerged around which community members are coalescing. If you live in North Kohala and want to get involved, you can contact the point person on the following initiatives:
* Business Proposition from Lone Palm Farms: David and Ruth Rotstein from Lone Palm Farm put forth a proposal that they would be open to talking to and cooperating with any North Kohala growers with products they would like to sell. Contact: David or Ruth- 889-5780 or david.rotstein@hawaiiantel.net
* Growing, Marketing & Distributing Herbs: Doug & Sarah Lombardo who have experience in growing, marketing and distributing herbs are looking for partners to lease land, share crop and connect with marketing and distribution opportunities. Contact: Doug or Sarah- 805-729-0621 or 1lombardo@sbcglobal.net
* Commercial Kitchens: Renee Rudzinski has an interest in helping the commercial kitchen movement. Contact: Renee- 884-5623 or ibbusy247@hotmail.com
* Land Leasing Agreements and Contracts: A working group formed under Ed Pollock’s leadership to explore different forms of land leasing agreements and contracts. Contact: Ed – 896-9893 or epollockhawaii@yahoo.com
* Breadfruit: A working group formed to work with Ric Rocker on expanding the growing and use of breadfruit. Contact: Ric- 895-3469 or richard@richardrocker.com
* North Kohala Grown Marketing Initiative: Having a booth at the Farmer’s Market as well as at the Kohala Country Fair to promote locally grown food, led by Ashley Lueders. Contact: Ashley 930-4634 or alueders@safarichefs.com
* Local Food for Senior Nutrition program- Pete Hoffmann would like community members to help own this initiative. Contact: Pete- 887-2043 or phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us
* Locally Grown Day at Local Restaurants: Joan Channon and Tom Baldwin will be spearheading an effort for Bamboo and other local restaurants to feature locally grown foods. Contact: Joan- 889-5555 or joanchannon@gmail.com
* North Kohala School Gardens: A group volunteered to help Nancy Redfeather with getting school gardens started at the elementary and middle schools. Contact: Nancy- 322-2801 or nredfeather@kohalacenter.org
* Peter Beemer attracted a group to work with him on promoting farming as an attractive and viable career for youth to be proud of. Contact: Peter- 895-0737 or peterbeemer@gmail.com
* Co-op: Forrest Arnold is facilitating a discussion around forming a Co-op. Contact: Forrest- 987-2365 or forrest@forrestinhawaii.com
* Shannon Casey believes the school garden and educational initiatives should be integrated with the co-op effort and will be the liaison between the two groups. Contact: Shannon- 889-5035 or shannon@turquoise.net
* Transition Town Handbook: Tom Baldwin is selling the transition town handbook and there is a discussion group forming that meets at Dee Chapon’s house. Contact: Tom- 889-5035 or tombaldwin@turquoise.net
To learn more, view survey results and presentation slides visit: www.nkfoodform.com.  
The North Kohala Food Forum is a project of the North Kohala Community Resource Center. Funding was provided by: County of Hawaii – Department of R &D, Ulupono Initiative, Hoea Agricultural Park, Starseed Ranch, and Steering Committee members.
  
More than 200 people enjoyed a delicious all North Kohala grown lunch at the food forum Aug. 22 at the Kohala Intergenerational Center. (Photo courtesy of Peter Beemer)

More than 200 people enjoyed a delicious all North Kohala grown lunch at the food forum Aug. 22 at the Kohala Intergenerational Center. (Photo courtesy of Peter Beemer)

Andrea Dean/Special to Hawaii247

How does a community move towards producing 50 percent of its own food? On Saturday, Aug. 22, about 200 North Kohala residents came together at the North Kohala Food Forum to find out. 

The Food Forum began by surveying about 70 people in the food community in these categories: food retailers, commercial food growers, commercial and institutional buyers, government-planning-education, and infrastructure managers. 

In the morning session, facilitators Bob Martin, Andrea Dean, Forrest Arnold and Guy Kaulukukui focused on “defining the gap” – the reasons North Kohala does not supply more of the food the community consumes.

Bob Martin served as a facilitator for the inaugural North Kohala Food Forum. (Photo courtesy of Peter Beemer)

Bob Martin served as a facilitator for the inaugural North Kohala Food Forum. (Photo courtesy of Peter Beemer)

Some key findings on the commercial production side are:

*  Local commercial food producers grow 80 percent of the varieties needed. 

However, local food production volume appears to be relatively low.

* Only 39 percent of our 28 commercial food producers make their living producing food.

* Only half of our food producers are financially successful.

* 68 percent of the produced food is sold, 12 percent is bartered.

* 70 percent of local producers are exporting food out of North Kohala

On the consumption side of the equation:

* Local food represents 1 percent of local retail food sales, and about 8 percent of local restaurant & caterer sales.

Overall, the North Kohala Food Forum survey data points to the conclusion local food represents only 2-4 percent of all food consumed in North Kohala.  

As Martin pointed out, “Houston, we have a problem!” 

Dean facilitated the afternoon session, which focused on identifying collaborations. 

The following initiatives emerged around which community members are coalescing. If you live in North Kohala and want to get involved, you can contact the point person on the following initiatives:

* Business Proposition from Lone Palm Farms: David and Ruth Rotstein from Lone Palm Farm put forth a proposal that they would be open to talking to and cooperating with any North Kohala growers with products they would like to sell. Contact: David or Ruth- 889-5780 or david.rotstein@hawaiiantel.net

* Growing, Marketing & Distributing Herbs: Doug & Sarah Lombardo who have experience in growing, marketing and distributing herbs are looking for partners to lease land, share crop and connect with marketing and distribution opportunities. Contact: Doug or Sarah- 805-729-0621 or 1lombardo@sbcglobal.net

* Commercial Kitchens: Renee Rudzinski has an interest in helping the commercial kitchen movement. Contact: Renee- 884-5623 or ibbusy247@hotmail.com

* Land Leasing Agreements and Contracts: A working group formed under Ed Pollock’s leadership to explore different forms of land leasing agreements and contracts. Contact: Ed – 896-9893 or epollockhawaii@yahoo.com

* Breadfruit: A working group formed to work with Ric Rocker on expanding the growing and use of breadfruit. Contact: Ric- 895-3469 or richard@richardrocker.com

* North Kohala Grown Marketing Initiative: Having a booth at the Farmer’s Market as well as at the Kohala Country Fair to promote locally grown food, led by Ashley Lueders. Contact: Ashley 930-4634 or alueders@safarichefs.com

* Local Food for Senior Nutrition program- Pete Hoffmann would like community members to help own this initiative. Contact: Pete- 887-2043 or phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us

* Locally Grown Day at Local Restaurants: Joan Channon and Tom Baldwin will be spearheading an effort for Bamboo and other local restaurants to feature locally grown foods. Contact: Joan- 889-5555 or joanchannon@gmail.com

* North Kohala School Gardens: A group volunteered to help Nancy Redfeather with getting school gardens started at the elementary and middle schools. Contact: Nancy- 322-2801 or nredfeather@kohalacenter.org

* Peter Beemer attracted a group to work with him on promoting farming as an attractive and viable career for youth to be proud of. Contact: Peter- 895-0737 or peterbeemer@gmail.com

* Co-op: Forrest Arnold is facilitating a discussion around forming a Co-op. Contact: Forrest- 987-2365 or forrest@forrestinhawaii.com

* Shannon Casey believes the school garden and educational initiatives should be integrated with the co-op effort and will be the liaison between the two groups. Contact: Shannon- 889-5035 or shannon@turquoise.net

* Transition Town Handbook: Tom Baldwin is selling the transition town handbook and there is a discussion group forming that meets at Dee Chapon’s house. Contact: Tom- 889-5035 or tombaldwin@turquoise.net

To learn more, view survey results and presentation slides visit: www.nkfoodform.com.  

The North Kohala Food Forum is a project of the North Kohala Community Resource Center. Funding was provided by: County of Hawaii – Department of R &D, Ulupono Initiative, Hoea Agricultural Park, Starseed Ranch, and Steering Committee members.

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