Where were the jackfruit?
Cion Manera was supposed to check in at least three of the jackfruit that earned her best in show honors during last year’s Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair, but the big, unusual-looking fruit was nowhere to be seen Thursday as the senior citizen checked in a variety of fruits and produce for judging in the fruit and vegetable show.
“Her daughter-in-law probably didn’t get there,” said Carol Manera Texeira, Cion’s daughter. “She had three — a couple for judging, and this year, she even gave one to the information desk people.”
Ken Johnson, who moved here from California two years ago, said he wasn’t aware of the event.
He was submitting a big polar bear pumpkin for judging Thursday.
“His name is Jim,” Johnson said. “He’s the only one that survived on the vine, and I’ve been watching him grow. He’s not quite ready yet — could probably grow another few months and get bigger and heavier, but the fair is now, so we picked him. We have another one growing on another vine.”
Johnson said he didn’t know Kauai even had a fair.
“This is my first time entering something,” he said. “We came last year, but by the time we learned about this, everything was being packed away. Tonight, I’m coming back with the grandkids to visit Jim.”
Opening ceremonies, the food booths, the rides, and the wide range of demonstrations, shows and exhibits opened to the public at 6 p.m. Thursday and ran through midnight. The night was sponsored by the Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union and offered blackout bingo hosted by Ron Wiley.
Caroline Miura of Kauai Hospice took care of blessing the facility and all those expected to flow through the games on Wednesday afternoon in the shadow of volunteers working to get the food booths operational for Thursday. She also joined the dedication of the fair to Kauai Community College Chancellor Helen Cox.
“We’re back for another year,” said Renee Kawakami of the Lihue Pop Warner Association. “We’ll still be doing malasada, but now we’re jockeying between Wong’s kitchen and cooking here at the stadium. This is such a good thing for us. We are able to give the kids a lot of the equipment they use because of the four days we put in. It’s a lot of work, and sweat.”
Saturday, gates open at noon and offer an afternoon and evening of family fun including Juice World at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources tent, a Kauai Island Utility Cooperative sponsored menehune chef demonstration featuring 2019 Ms. United States Amanda Smith showing keiki how to make their own healthy poi shake.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
It has come to my attention that the powers-that-be at the County Fair judge fruits and vegetables solely by their appearance. The judges do NOT open or taste any of the entries. How absurd, and typical of our modern day culture: perfect looking apples and oranges command attention at the supermarket, despite the fact that they do NOT taste nearly as good as fruit did a few decades ago. We are headed toward a GMO based food supply, Look great, tastes like caca, and may mess with your biology.
Please let your readers know when fruits and veggies are judged not only by their outward appearance, but by opening and, when appropriate, tasting them.
Until then, I suggest skipping the fair altogether. The quality of the food offered at the fair is junk, and unhealthy.