Where’s the beef? Ag trade show highlights other products

Farming is a full-time job and even trade shows need to be scheduled around routines surrounding agriculture.

Sunday, the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau and the University of Hawai‘i Cooperative Extension Service provided agricultural entrepreneurs and the public an opportunity to learn about the latest in technology as well as what is taking place in the political arena that affects agriculture in the state.

“This is a chance for farmers to be able to get together and discuss what’s going on,” said Roy Yamakawa, a Cooperative Extension agent. “But it’s more than that. It allows people to see what is involved in agriculture and it also helps the farm bureau recruit new members.”

The Kawamuras of M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises have been a longtime supporter of agriculture on the island, and for the 8th annual Agricultural Trade Show, three generations helped out at the family exhibit.

“We have to come support,” Ed Kawamura said as he jockeyed between the workshops and his own exhibit. “There’re less and less young people getting involved in agriculture.”

Kawamura and Bill Spitz of the county Economic Development Board said if the young people don’t get involved, eventually, who will take over?

At noon — a time when a lot of the farm chores have been done — the organizers hosted a luncheon featuring a wide variety of speakers to speak on various areas affecting agriculture. This was followed by a short open house for the public to view the latest products in agricultural.

Vendor Liz Ito was there to recruit members for a Kaua‘i chapter of the Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers. To appease the appetite for freebies from the public, she had a variety of recipes made from fresh, locally grown fruits.

Ito, a teacher, said she took off from teaching last year to tend to the farm because everything was getting overgrown.

“It’s a full-time job,” she said.

Kaua‘i Office of Economic Development director Beth Tokioka promoted the Kaua‘i Made program, which supports agricultural products, among other local goods.

Next to Tokioka, Juanita Kawamoto of the Farm Fresh Hawai‘i program was bombarded by questions from vendors and producers alike.

FFH aims to provide a “virtual” farmer’s market for residents and businesses in the state, as well as from those who want to purchase Hawai‘i products from abroad.

Curious spectators were drawn to the cookies from a bakery on the Big Island, an assortment of coffee, various preserves, jams and jellies and some fresh Maui-grown strawberries.

Derek Kawakami of the Big Save markets was one of many attentive onlookers.

“We might look seriously into all of this,” Kawakami said, noting that none of the items on display are readily available for sale on Kaua‘i.

A Maui-based volunteer said they make twice-monthly trips to O‘ahu with Maui and Big Island products to sell at the Kapiolani Community College.

Accustomed to being the tempters, some Farm Fresh volunteers found themselves in an unusual spot.

“They don’t even have this on O‘ahu,” said one who caved for a container of mountain apple/mango pickles from Suel L. Semana of Waimea Valley.

Another succumbed to the mouth-watering aroma of old-style crack seed.

Amidst the sea of activity, the familiar voice of Ginger Keller, 9, called out the names of raffle winners to collect their plants, clothing, bags of rice and even boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

“You can charge $10 a head, but if you give away rice, people going come,” one farm bureau member said, bag of rice tucked under his arm.

Yamakawa estimated this year’s show to be more well-attended than last year’s.

Aside from the ag show, the County Farm Bureau’s two major events each year have become island traditions. This year’s Garden Fair is set for April 14 at the Kaua‘i Community College, and the Farm Bureau Fair is scheduled for Aug. 23-26 at the Vidinha Stadium.

For more information, call 828-2120.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.