New Maui County Farm Bureau TV Show to Air on Akakū

Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D., a nationally recognized registered dietitian and nutrition expert, shares information on various food-related topics with Kokua Show’s host Chivo Ching-Johnson. Photo provided by Maui County Farm Bureau.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui County Farm Bureau’s new TV show, “Kokua Ag: Growing Our Future Together,” will air on Akakū Channel 55 on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. It will re-air on the same channel on Friday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m.; and on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m.

Kokua Ag is a Maui County Farm Bureau initiative that seeks to educate the community about important agricultural issues; most importantly, what we can all do to support a vibrant future for Maui ag.

The inaugural show hosted by Chivo Ching-Johnson will feature guests Mary Lee Chin, a registered dietitian and nutrition expert who specializes in food-related educational initiatives; David Stoltzfus, Maui Lead for Monsanto Hawai‘i; and Rhonda Stoltzfus, a master bee keeper, mom and blogger who writes about agriculture.

Kōkua Ag logo.

The Kokua Ag show will explore how Maui can build a stronger bridge between farmers and consumers. Guests will discuss provocative food topics of today, including genetically modified foods, environmental and sustainability issues and solutions for producing food for a growing population.

Chin, M.S., R.D., specializes in significant food issues and nutrition trends, working with commodity food groups and food industry on nutrition education initiatives. She has served as an expert witness on food-related issues in federal and legislative hearings; and serves on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “R.D. Farmer & Agriculture Committee of Experts” to advise on their “Future of Food” and “Healthy Food, Healthy Planet” initiatives; Advisory Boards of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; and the Community Health & Nutrition Program at University of Northern Colorado.

Chin was named Outstanding Dietitian of the Year by the Colorado Dietetic Association in 1985 and 2012, and is a recipient of Denver’s “2007 Women of Distinction” Award from Girl Scouts of America-Mile High Chapter. She formerly held a six-year term as one of the original national spokespersons for the 75,000 member Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Maui residents David and Rhonda Stoltzfus have an extensive background in farming, and love to share their knowledge and passion for agriculture and food with others. Raised on a family farm in Iowa, David has earned degrees in agronomy, plant breeding and business management.

David currently serves as the Maui Lead for Monsanto Hawai‘i.

David’s wife, Rhonda, originally from Northern California, earned her degree in horticulture from Iowa State University. She is a master bee keeper and owned a fruit farm before moving to Hawai‘i seven years ago. Rhonda has a personal blog called Iowa Meets Maui, where she writes extensively about agriculture, their family and life on Maui.

For more information on Kokua Ag and its new Akakū show, go online.