An experiment in tabletop cultivation of various crops for the purpose of fertilizer research has worked so well that a local company has formed to grow and deliver fresh, healthy leafy green edibles to Kaua’i hotels and restaurants. The Radisson
An experiment in tabletop cultivation of various crops for the purpose of fertilizer research has worked so well that a local company has formed to grow and deliver fresh, healthy leafy green edibles to Kaua’i hotels and restaurants.
The Radisson Kauai Beach Resort is a large customer of Garden Island Greens, as well as the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, Wrangler’s Pizza Parlor & Steakhouse, Gaylord’s Restaurant, and others, said Rick Eveleth, who handles marketing and administrative matters for Garden Island Greens.
With the goal of being in all major hotels and restaurants on the island, Eveleth is “cultivating” other potential clients, he said.
What started out as a single research station in Waimea Valley studying fertilizer effects on local crops has branched out to a small organic farm (not yet certified, but practicing organic farming techniques) along Ho’omana Road, Lihu’e’s German Hill area.
On German Hill, Joseph Dunsmoor and Lynn Connors and children do the growing of Manoa lettuce, romaine, Anuenue, Red Galactic, a Grand Rapids green-leaf, and other varieties of leafy greens, on land leased from Grove Farm.
In pots. On tabletops.
The system is called nutriculture, where plant nutrition is applied in a balance that Eveleth says ensures superior taste, texture and shelf life (guaranteed for 10 days in refrigerated conditions).
A refrigerated delivery van ensures the product is chilled upon arrival to customers.
Plant nutrition used is licensed under the definition of organic plant food according to the American Association of Professional Control Officials, and the German Hill farm is in the process of becoming certified organic, Eveleth said.
The work at German Hill is labor intensive, with around 5,000 pots of greens to maintain and a growing cycle of 55 to 65 days. Potting soil is recycled, as of course are the pots, and with just 0.1 acres under netting, the operation doesn’t take much room.
At Waimea, greenhouse cucumber is under cultivation, as well as some flowers. There were lots of banana trees growing there until Hurricane ‘Iniki rumbled through Kaua’i in 1992, and still some banana plants on the Westside, he said.
All of the Waimea produce is sold locally.
The Radisson featured Garden Island Greens at last week’s Taste of Hawaii event at Smith’s Tropical Paradise, an event of the Rotary Club of Kapaa that sold out once again. The Radisson is also a major customer for the new company’s salad mix, Eveleth said.
Eveleth, who lives on O’ahu and travels to Kaua’i at least once a week, was in the sugar industry in Hawai’i for 32 years.
For more information on Garden Island Greens, please call Eveleth, 1-808-221-4793, or the German Hill farm, 245-6356.
Business Editor Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
