For having a year round growing season and some of the best soil in the world, it is surprising how much of our produce comes from outside of Hawaii. With rising fuel costs, the importance of locally grown food is becoming even more apparent. There are a handful of natural foods and small grocery stores around Maui that feature local and organic produce. These stores are augmented by a few farmer's markets throughout the island. That being said, when you go in many of the island grocery stores, you will find produce from throughout Central and South America. West Maui in particular was an area that lacked good options for local and organic food. Many residents would drive an hour and a half or more round trip just to shop at Mana Foods, the great little natural food store in my town of Paia.

Hawaiian Papaya

The Maui News reported today that help has arrived for those in West Maui that are looking for local and organic produce. Lahaina Farms is a new grocer that caters towards upscale, local and organic foods. The store which is located in the Lahaina Gateway lifestyle center is a new type of grocery store for the Sullivan Family Co. which also owns Sack 'N Save and Foodland. The management is working with the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association to source local produce for the store. The store is also taking input from residents on other items they would like to see stocked on the shelves. If the store is a success, Sullivan and Co. will likely roll out similar stores in other parts of Hawaii although likely under another name. Here's to their success and the growth and renewal of local agriculture.

 
This post has been included in Hawaii Real Estate News Maui County, HI Real Estate News Lahaina, HI Real Estate News
Post is included in group: ECO-ALL-STARS & "BOOMERS"
Post is included in group: The Hawaiian Connection

6 Comments on West Maui Gets a Green Grocer

JUN
19
2008
339,635 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

I would have never thougth it be that hard to get good fresh food in a place that we all think you just walk out the door and it is waiting at your feet.

 
10:05pm • #1
Outside Blog

Its surprising Eric. You really do see all kinds of tropical fruit from other parts of the world on the shelves of Hawaiian Supermarkets. I can understand it to an extent when the fruit is not in season in Hawaii, but this is even when there are good local alternatives. That being said, I have been reaping the bounty of local produce lately. The mango trees in my neighborhood are going off and there are literally beautiful ripe mangos laying in the street in my neighborhood. My co-worker and fellow rainer Georgie Hunter brought in a box filled with apple bananas, lychee and passion fruit. I have a freezer full of fresh organic maui ground beef, and have been eating salads with lettuce out of my friends gardens. You can eat local, but you have to make a little more effort. Fortunately, stores like this are making it easier.
10:15pm • #2
JUN
20
2008
1,157,947 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pete - Growing food locally make sense and the food taste so much better.  I is troubling that many places capable of growing their own food due to trade ended up import inginferior products.  Right now I would love papaya right of the tree.
6:40am • #3
Outside Blog

Lots of the arable land on Maui is allocated to sugar cane. It would be nice to see some of that land go fallow, replenish the soil and gradually convert to food crops. In the interim, a lot of people are getting great results in their own backyard. I love following the efforts of the Devraes Family. While I don't expect people will embrace sustainability and local food to the extent that they do, I think there can be a lot of inspriation drawn from their efforts.
3:24pm • #4
JUN
21
2008
808,922 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Pete, I saw that family on TV the other night.  Did you see their bicycle powered blender?  I like it!... who wants a Margarita workout?
7:37pm • #5
Outside Blog

I missed them on the tube, but saw that there has been lots of coverage from CNN and local stations. I was just looking at a bicycle powered blender today. I have also seen a few of those on the road to Hana. They use them to make smoothies at some of the fruit stands.
8:25pm • #6


What does the graphic say?
Leave a response…

(optional)
Spam Prevention:
 
Rainmaker_large

Pete Jalbert R(S)

Paia, HI

More about me…

The Maui Real Estate Team, Inc.

Cell Phone: (808) 283-3868

Email Me

Real estate and lifestyle blog for Maui County. View Pete Jalbert's profile on LinkedIn


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find HI real estate agents and Paia real estate on ActiveRain.