Executive Chef Garett Fujieda, from The Westin Maui Resort & Spa will offer a Grown on Maui Cooking Class to one lucky family along with a two night stay at the hotel. This grand prize is part of the Maui County Farm Bureau's Grown on Maui, Agriculture Matters campaign. These hotels and chefs are recognized for their outstanding commitment to local agriculture on Maui.

By Wendy Osher

This September, Grown on Maui products will be hard to miss. Farmers, ranchers, local food producers and friends of agriculture are teaming up to celebrate what Maui grows.

Purposefully planned to raise awareness during the yearʻs slowest sales month, the Maui County Farm Bureau works to make local agriculture top of mind by increasing awareness.

The grand launch, in partnership with Edible Hawaiian Islands magazine, begins tonight, September 2, at Wailuku First Friday.

Kinaole Grill Food Truck will make Grown on Maui salad and fish.  There will also be produce for sale, provided by Kula Fields; pohole salad by Hana Fresh Herbs & Flowers; baked breads, pastries, and a selection of value-added agricultural products by Mauiʻs Ono; cold drinks by Hawaiian Canoe Club; locally sourced bananas dipped in chocolate; vegetable curry and rice plus Chai Tea by Umaʻs Indian Food & Spice Mix.

The Maui County Farm Bureau will also have its Grown on Maui merchandise available for sale.

All of these vendors join the Maui County Farm Bureau to promote Grown on Maui on Pili Street, next to American Savings Bank Wailuku, from 6 to 9 p.m.

In addition, the Maui County Farm Bureau will be offering a full schedule of events in September targeting Maui residents and visitors, schools, and restaurants and grocery stores.

“We do this campaign because we believe that agriculture matters on Maui,” said MCFB executive director Warren Watanabe.

“We continue to drive the message of Maui ag’s important role to Mauiʻs economy, culture/heritage, and everyday lifestyle.”

Other Farm Fresh, Maui Grown events taking place in September include, but are not limited to:

• Localicious, Dine Out Maui – Growing Future Farmers:
  

  Buy Local Maui Banner.

  Order a Grown on Maui salad and support Growing Future Farmers, a Maui chefs’ initiative to keep agriculture viable on Maui. The chefs pledge $1 from the sale of each Grown on Maui salad to the nonprofit Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation. Chefs spearheading the promotion include Jenna Haugaard, Scott McGill, Mark Ellman, and James McDonald.

• By September 15 Maui participating grocery stores will feature Grown on Maui banners, posters and shelf signs in their stores to make it easier for consumers to spot local produce, proteins and value-added products.
• Berrilicious, Go Bananas: What does it take to serve Grown on Maui produce in our schools? 22,000 strawberries and 11,000 bananas, will be delivered, ripe for consumption, September 20 and 22 respectively to keiki in Maui schools K to 5th grade.
• Maui Schools Garden Tours: Organized by Maui School Garden Network and the Home Gardening Support Network, Maui teachers from K-12 tour five school gardens in the Upcountry and Central Maui areas on September 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meeting place at Haleakala Waldorf School . Register with Anne Gachuhi at annega3@yahoo.com or msgn@hawaii.rr.com

***Supporting information courtesy The Maui County Farm Bureau.