Farm to Table - GoFarm Hawai`i at Kaua`i CC donates fresh produce

Malama Kauai Village Harvest team gathers fresh produce from Kaua'i CC.

LIHUE—GoFarm Hawai'i @ Kaua'i CC is about to start farming a new season’s worth of crops for its Spring/Summer 2015 cohort.  Growing in the field from the previous cohort was a crop of collard greens and kale.  Not wanting to let good food to go to waste and wanting to help others, Eric Hansen, the program’s coordinator, arranged a donation of 29 pounds of produce to Malama Kaua'i’s Village Harvest program via the Hawai'i Food Bank – Kaua'i Branch. The Village Harvest Project partners with the Kaua'i School Garden Network and the Kaua'i Master Gardening Program headquartered at UH CTHAR. “I couldn’t find a better way to not waste food and feed people,” said Hansen.  “A good farmer does not waste resources.  Good farmers are community oriented—after all, farming is about feeding people,” he said.

GoFarm Hawai'i commercial farmer training programs, held at Kaua'i CC, Leeward CC, and Windward CC, support those who are interested in becoming production farmers and who want to learn essential technical and business fundamentals of successful farming.  With Hawai'i importing approximately 85% of its food, the program recognizes the need to strengthen food security across the state. Additionally, it is responding to the growing demand for fresh, locally grown food.  Recently, GoFarm Hawai'i received $712k from the U.S Department of Labor’s Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program. It has also received support from the U.S. Department of Labor, Kamehameha Schools, the Ulupono Initiative, Hawai'i Department of Agriculture, and the Doc Buyer’s Fund at Hawai'i Community Foundation.

Hansen, is eagerly looking forward to Kaua'i CC’s farmer training Spring 2015 cohort, which will run through July 25.  “Students in the upcoming classes are eager to see theory put to practice,” said Hansen.  “They are excited to learn the practical application of agriculture facts and theories for maximum sustainable yields, with the least effort, while doing things pono,” he said.

Cohort trainings at Kaua'i CC:

AgXposure (February 21 – March 29)

• Farm tours and hands on learning experiences on sustainable farms

AgSchool (April 9 through July 25)

• Comprehensive hands on education in all aspects of the business and science of sustainable farming on Kaua'i.

The cost to attend the training is only $85.

Hansen brings expertise to the program with experience in taro farming, orchard production, sales at farmers markets, botanical inventories for EIS, and management of the largest ex-situ collection of endangered flora for the National Tropical Botanical Garden.  He holds a MSc degree in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science with a B.S. degree in Environmental Science from UH Hilo.

“This gift of grown food speaks exactly to Kaua'i CC’s mission of serving the community,” said Helen Cox, Kaua'i CC chancellor.  “And we are thrilled to have GoFarm Hawai'i @ Kaua'i CC as it fulfills our goal of promoting farming and farmers who are working to build the Garden Island as a sustainable living community,” she said.

For information about GoFarm Hawai'i @ Kaua'i CC, Contact Eric Hansen at 245-0219 or email ewhansen@hawaii.edu.