Maui Farmers Union has a regular feature they call the "Produce Scoop". Ryan Eareheart, the produce manager of Mana Foods in Paia did a great job, as usual, for the August meeting. As a farmer himself, he is very knowledgeable and can help the Maui farmers figure out the best crops to grow and sell to Mana Foods, as well as the best foods for the consumer. I just saw on Mana Foods Facebook page they are hiring a dynamic produce person to help Ryan.

Maui Farmers Union August "Chef's Corner"

One of my favorite portions of the Maui Farmers Union meeting, besides the pot luck, is the Chef's Corner. The August meeting featured the return of a regular guest chef.
Chef Justin Pardo of Market Fresh Bistro in Makawao town on Maui is a big supporter of local farmers and gardeners through his restaurant. Serving nearly everything that was within a day or two of being harvested.
This meeting he did a demo on how to prepare Kalo to make real quick Kalo and Kula Onion Cakes. Also variations on the recipes.
Always a lively, fun and informative presenter, I have quite a few videos on his presentations for the Maui Farmers Union.

An interesting passage from Newman Turner

"In modern farming, both crop production and livestock feeding, we have been concerned with the provision of prepared nutrients imported to the farm, instead of making full use of the complete provisions of nature. The result is that we have burdened farming with the colossal cost of chemical fertilizers, sprays, insecticides, vaccines and medicines, while nature quietly continues to beat us, in the matter of both abundant production and healthy crops and animals, at no cost.

The earth is the permanent possessor of all things contained therein and which grow therefrom; they are loaned to the human and animal kingdom for bodily sustenance for the duration of life, but nature decreed that they shall, after use, be returned to the earth. No plant, animal or human being can claim the right of destruction, or of permanent possession, of any of the ingredients of its food or physical body. They must return to the earth to sustain new life and to ensure the continuation of the universe when life, for us, is ended. We are but the tenants of life, having on loan the physical from the earth and the spiritual from God. What happens to our spiritual being and its inspiration remains to be discovered after we lay down the physical life. But our duties regarding the physical body and its means of natural sustenance are clear to all. It must be returned, together with all organic matter derived from the earth, back to the earth.

Problems of so-called soil deficiencies-certainly as far as the main elements are concerned-have only arisen with the increasing failure to acknowledge and act upon this law."

---------------Excerpt taken from Newman Turner's book titled Fertility Farming.

Hawaii Farmers United Hosts It's First Locavore Cook-Off Contest

The Maui Chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union hosted a Locavore Cook-Off Contest on the evening of March 22, 2011. With Chef Justin Pardo of Market Fresh Bistro in Makawao and Melissa Panzarini, they had the tough job of sorting through ten food entries that had the hungry audience, salivating and wishing they had signed up to be one of the judges, at least that's how it was for me...

Chef Justin as a regular to our meetings, always has some inspiring and taste bud tantalizing ideas on cooking to share.

Since this was the one year anniversary meeting since this group formed and falling on the Summer Equinox, it was decided to add some special events. So with the generous donations of Mana Foods with two great hand picked food baskets, some Bags of Feather Meal from Crop Protection
Service, and even some Bio-Char made by Ricky Apana, there was a donation raffle that everyone seemed very pleased to win.

The winners in three places were:

3rd place winner--Angelika Hofmann, who received a $45.00 gift certificate from Whole Foods.
2nd place winner with 52 points went to Evan Ryan, along with a $60.00 gift certificate from Down To Earth.
1st place winner with 56 points went to Keith Ranney. As 1st place winner, Keith received a $75.00 gift certificate from Hawaiian Moons, as well as a two year subscription from Edible Hawaiian Islands magazine.

The winners seemed to be overjoyed at the recognition for their cooking skills, but of particular note was that Evan Ryan's Green Papaya Salad that took 2nd place was literally picked off his trees and prepared right before he came to the meeting, just showing good food can be fast food.

The 3rd place winner Keith Ranney said after winning that "I never cooked nothing before."

Along with the popular Chef's Corner, the various great speakers, the community updates, the very popular pot luck meal, it seem that the Locavore Cook-Off was especially popular and may become a regular event. I sure hope so. Anyone wanting to see it continue can always help out by soliciting some great prizes and donations from friends, families and business.

I can't wait for April's meeting. I stay hungry already!

Jim Hall

Market Fresh Bistro's Chef Justin Pardo doing the Chef's Corner talk.

The last meeting in February of 2011, we had a great meeting as usual and our chef's corner is always a hit. Here is Chef Justin Pardo of Market Fresh Bistro talking about the restaurant, some food tips and how they support and work with Makawao School by donating money from dinners, building gardens with them and teaching children about eating healthy. Way to go Chef Justin!



Here is a clip from June, 2010 of Chef Justin from Market Fresh Bistro just after they one an award from then Mayor Hannible Tavares.