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After a soft opening in July, Fork & Salad Maui officially launches with a grand opening event this Friday, August 26 in conjunction with Kīhei’s Fourth Friday town party.  The celebration happens from 6 to 9 p.m. at Azeka Mauka Shopping Center.

The grand opening will feature a store blessing, 25% off all food items, free kombucha samples and a beer garden on the patio. There will also be mini-farmers’ market to showcase some of the restaurant’s local partners in agriculture.

In a unique move, Fork & Salad is also unveiling a video series called “Know Your Farmers,” which features the stories behind some of Maui’s local ag suppliers, including Kumu Farms in Waikapū, Waipoli Hydroponic Greens in upper Kula and Oko‘a Farms in lower Kula.  The videos can be viewed by scanning a QR code posted in the restaurant, or going to the Farms page on Fork & Salad’s website.  The Waipoli farm video is included above, courtesy of Fork & Salad.

“We wanted to take it beyond a farm name and photo, to give people a real, personal sense of where their food is coming from,” explains Fork & Salad co-owner/chef Travis Morrin.  “The videos are all three minutes or shorter, which is how long it takes to get one our salads made, so we invite people to scan the code and check these out while they’re in line or whenever they have a moment, to get that deeper connection to the fresh ingredients we all love.”

Beet & Goat Cheese salad, a signature item at Fork & Salad, donating $1 of every purchase to Grow Some Good through March 2017. Courtesy photo.

Also at the grand opening, local nonprofit Grow Some Good will be on-hand to share its programs and encourage home gardens with free plant and seed giveaways.  Fork & Salad has announced a charitable partnership with Grow Some Good, donating $1 of every Beet & Goat Cheese salad purchased to the nonprofit from September through March 2017.

The owners’ other restaurant, Three’s Bar and Grill in Kīhei, will also support the cause, selecting Grow Some Good as its Kama’āina Give Back recipient for two consecutive months.

As a locally-sourced, farm-to-table eatery, owners say Fork & Salad’s mission aligns with the goals of Grow Some Good, which currently provides student gardens in 12 Maui schools.  The organization strives to create healthier communities by supporting local agriculture and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.  See Maui Now’s recent video on chefs’ support for Grow Some Good here.

“School gardens are a great starting place because the students are learning the value of the ‘āina and, at the same time, improving their eating habits,” says Kathy Becklin, Grow Some Good co-founder and interim Executive Director. “Our students take these lessons and share them with their families, inspiring home gardens and improving nutrition for the entire household.”

Visit Fork & Salad’s website to learn more about the Grand Opening celebration, farm videos and food.