• Buy local food • The public interest • Value-added products welcomed, but where? Buy local food We recently acquired some vegetables from local farmers, James and Hannah, who sell at the sunshine markets. As typical for my gender, I
• Buy local food • The public interest • Value-added products
welcomed, but where?
Buy local food
We recently acquired some vegetables from local farmers, James and Hannah, who sell at the sunshine markets. As typical for my gender, I am not a big salad lover. My wife prepared a salad with their lettuce and other greens. I was astonished at how good a salad can taste. It was beyond words.
In 2009 we spent some time in Japan. In Japan, the food in the grocery store came from local farmers, using older methods. You can smell the manure when you drive by their fields. The vegetables there were awesome.
How did we get so far off track in our American food system? Why do we eat such junk food? By junk food, I mean red tomatoes, green lettuce, etc. that have no taste. So many of us don’t even realize what we are missing, until we taste the real thing.
Hamburger meat from local Kauai cattle ranchers tastes 10 times better, in my opinion. Besides being grass-fed, more natural and healthy; the local ranchers/butchers apparently use better cuts of meat to make their hamburger.
I raise truly free-range chickens. Most of you probably do not even know how good a crème brulee can taste, until you taste one made with fresh, truly free-range eggs.
It seems clear that the dramatic difference in taste corresponds to a dramatic difference in how it will affect our health. If you need to pay more for fresh, local, real food; no doubt you will get your money back in less medical bills down the road. The wonderful taste, good feelings in your stomach, and better health will all be a bonus.
You don’t even need to think about the fact that you are helping out our local farmers and helping to make our food supply more dependable.
Buy local, real food!
Mark Beeksma, Koloa
The public interest
Mr. Walter Lewis says in his column of Feb. 5, 2011 that “The Charter Commission and other boards and commissions are oriented to serve the interests of our county officials instead of the broader public interest.” As an example and in support of his proposition, he resurrects the County-Manager proposal which lingered in the Charter Review Commission for approximately five (5) years where it was unable to garner a majority vote sufficient to convince the Commission to submit it to the voters for consideration. (Eventually, the Commission voted unanimously to postpone the idea indefinitely from further consideration.)
Everyone is free to express their opinions and make their own conclusions. Mr. Lewis chooses to cast doubt on the integrity and sincerity of Commission and Board members who go through a selection process and then are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council based upon their education, experiences and qualifications. They promise, under oath, to perform their duties to the best of their ability.
To say that they are not “oriented” to serve the public interest is a short-sighted, blind and biased opinion leveled at these volunteers who live within and among their communities … aware and knowledgeable of the interests of their friends and neighbors. They receive no pay except the satisfaction of contributing their time, knowledge, experiences and their wisdom to serve the public interest.
Their majority or unanimous vote, for or against, any issue, represents what they honestly believe is in the public interest and not necessarily, always in the interest of those who find the time to testify at hearings, write letters to the editor, or participate in protests in one form or another. Listen-in on the “coconut wireless” to find out what and how “the other side” thinks!
Alfred Laureta, Lihu‘e
Value-added products welcomed, but where?
I am happy to see Draft Bill 2400 presented and under review. Added-value products are indeed profitable opportunities for local business owners and farmers. I do have some concerns and questions though.
How will you make room for these new vendors at the markets? The Sunshine Markets are full and permits are not currently being given out. Will current farmer vendors be removed? If so, how will you choose? Will you remove vendors who are clearly selling produce from other islands/areas of the Mainland? (I’m thinking particularly of the vendors who sell those pale, mealy tomatoes, zucchini, and papayas, mangoes and pineapples of questionable origin.)
If not, will this ever be addressed? I know it is a long standing issue, but it clearly violates the permit rules. If this is not enforced, or they are not removed how about expanding current market locations? Or changing venues to allow space for additional legitimate, local farmers?
In regards to added value vendors needing to obtain a permit to use the Kaua‘i Made logo in order to sell: items with this logo are not necessarily made with local ingredients. Will preference be given to vendors who utilize locally sourced ingredients? It would follow current permit rules for vendors selling produce.
There is much positive talk about Kaua‘i becoming more sustainable and producing more green and agricultural jobs. Moving forward on this bill reasonably and responsibly would show action to support these notions.
Erika Hahn, Kilauea
