PUHI — Marissa Sanbloom, a Grove Farm Company vice president, said the next swap meet will probably take place in October or November. “We were thinking of doing it once a quarter if there was public support for the swap
PUHI — Marissa Sanbloom, a Grove Farm Company vice president, said the next swap meet will probably take place in October or November.
“We were thinking of doing it once a quarter if there was public support for the swap meet,” Sanbloom said from her booth at the second swap meet hosted by Grove Farm Company, Saturday at Puhi Park. “We have 65 vendors today. That’s more than the first one we had, and things were a little slow to start because people were worrying about the storm. But today, everything is nice and sunny and people seem to be doing brisk business.”
Sanbloom said from what she could see, it appears there is good public support for the event, so she’ll work on trying to coordinate one to coincide with holiday shopping in October or November.
Among those who were at the Puhi meet, the Hanalei Taro Company had to split itself between two events, Sanbloom said. The food vendor from Hanalei offering Hawaiian plate lunches, snacks and taro smoothies had to move its wagon to Po‘ipu for another event because they had committed to that one. At the Puhi Park, it was operating under a Quik Tent with no adverse effect on sales.
“There are a lot of people who just stop by for lunch and then spend time browsing,” Sanbloom said. “Masa’s Shave Ice was one of the early ones to sign up and I’m so glad he’s doing very brisk business.”
One of the shave ice creations went to the Waimea High School robotics program that was enjoying its second appearance at the swap meet.
“We’re combining with Kaua‘i High School’s program to help raise funds,” said adviser Stu Burley who was joined by Denice Sheffer. “When we start building, each school will do its own robot, but for now, we both need money, so why not collaborate?”
Sanbloom was pleased that schools were part of the swap meet as well, noting that the Kawaikini Charter School was offering candy snacks and lemonade among the row of vendors.
Similarly, the Easter Seals of Kaua‘i was enjoying its second appearance at the swap meet, its offering of “recycled” toys, books and other items ebbing as the noon hour approached.
“We’ve been busy all morning,” said Shayne Tokia of the Easter Seals. “These items are ‘recycled’ from parents and friends and once they are sold, the funds are recycled back into the program to pick up more things.”
John McClure could not resist the lure of kim chee being offered by artist Kyungsoo Lee, expanding her venture beyond the Lawai Cannery event, in the booth next to his Moloa‘a Bay Coffee Co.
“We have to support each other,” McClure said, slipping a sample into his mouth while explaining about a state cupping award their coffee earned in July.
McClure said the cupping competition was a new event and featured judges brought in from the Mainland.
“There were only three winners outside of Kona, and we were one of them,” McClure said. “The other two winners came from Maui.”
McClure said the award was based on a new experimental process they developed and was unveiled to the public during the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau’s Garden Fair in April at the Kaua‘i Community College.
“The people liked what they sampled there, and I guess the judges agreed,” McClure said, adding that they will also be at the KCC Farmers Market that is scheduled to debut on Sept. 12 at the KCC campus.
John’s wife, Daphne said they have 4,000 plants on about 15 acres of land in Moloa‘a and all of the beans are hand-picked.
That was more than enough reason to keep the newly labeled bags steadily moving along with select offerings from Hanalima Bakery.
“It all goes together,” Daphne said. “Bread goes with coffee, and since we’re here, we might as well help.”
