Farm Fresh produce, seasonal fruits, value added farm products and more
A partnership between Kauai County Farm Bureau and Kauai Community College, Kauai Community Market is held every Saturday morning, in the KCC front parking lot from 9:30am to 1pm. The market features a wide variety of vendors not typically found at other farmers markets, and has become a place where neighbors can shop for food and the garden, where visitors can experience delicious local foods and "talk story" with farmers, and where we can all eat and learn more ways to cook and raise local ingredients.
Along with all types of fruit and produce, the market carries ready-to-eat food and packaged food products like poi, kulolo and Hawaiian plate lunches from Hanalei Taro & Juice Co., fresh coffee from Moloaa Bay Coffee, Kunana Dairy goat cheese, spices from Salty Wahine, frozen bananas, honey, baked goods and over 8 types of jam from fresh fruits. Local nurseries and flower growers supply plant starts, ornamentals, cut flowers as well as shippable gift boxes from Tropical Flowers Express for those shipping presents to the mainland.
Based on a model that combines open market, education and business incubator for new Kauai Grown products, the Kauai Community Market is a gathering place where farmers, local businesses, educators and students, residents and visitors all come together with one thing in common - an interest in buying fresh, buying local and supporting agriculture on Kauai. Special programs include education food demos, community guests like the Kauai Humane Society, tours of the KCC organic garden and seasonal special events.
"What makes this market unique is that it brings all the pieces together, from seed to table, to support buying and eating local," said Melissa McFerrin, Executive Administrator of Kauai County Farm Bureau. "There has been such a strong public interest in supporting agriculture, and this is one of many ways we can do this as a community."
"KCC is the place where we are teaching others how to grow their own food and inspiring them to create a plan for developing a unique business out of what is grown fresh in a garden," said Helen Cox, Chancellor for Kauai Community College. "This is also a place where we are promoting a lifestyle that is sustainable where growing our own food is a way of life. We support agriculture as an income-bearing industry for Kauai as well as members of our community who love to garden and want to grow their own food," she said.
Kauai Community Market applications are open to farmers, value added product producers and caterers using farm fresh ingredients, agricultural commodity groups and non profits, and educational programs with a focus on agriculture.
