Jerry Ornellas, past president of the Kauai County Farm Bureau, and the owner of Jerry’s Farm, said the fairs on the Mainland have “biggest pumpkin” contests.
Jerry Ornellas, past president of the Kauai County Farm Bureau, and the owner of Jerry’s Farm, said the fairs on the Mainland have “biggest pumpkin” contests.
“In Hawaii, we don’t have pumpkins,” Ornellas said. “Instead, we have big bananas.”
Ornellas had a big bunch of Goldfinger bananas on display off to one corner of the agricultural tent where fruit and vegetable specimens vying for coveted blue ribbons and farmers vying for high-point honors displayed their offerings.
“This one is funny,” said Hanna Huang, pointing out a daikon resembling an impish elf. “This was grown by a Thai farmer who said he was going to show it in the farm fair.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kauai County Farm Bureau — not the farm fair — and a limited edition T-shirt is available at the fair’s information booth.
The fair includes food booths, rides, displays and games. It continues starting at 6 tonight with the Kauai Coffee Celebrity Chef Challenge opening the gates, followed by an evening of activity and events until midnight Saturday, and Sunday, the fair opens at noon and runs through 11 p.m.
Fair entrance prices are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and above, and $2 for keiki 4 to 12 years old. Keiki under 3 are admitted free.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
