Hilo Coast Farms

Richard Ha writes:

We are now marketing products under a new brand: Hilo Coast Farms. Under this label we are starting to market the produce of other Hilo/Hamakua farmers who see a value in shipping and marketing together.

We now pack locally grown Williams and Apple bananas, sweet Hawaiian corn, Japanese cucumber and green onions.

My son-in-law Kimo Pa, our farm manager, and Mike Nist of Seattle Tacoma Box Company designed this box over a couple of beers. Our farm is mauka of the “gears” in Pepe‘ekeo, hence the picture of the gears and the “Hilo Coast” name. 

I have written about the “Family of Farms”  concept here before. From my previous post:

This is how the concept of “Families of Farms” came to me. I asked myself, What happens if we lease lands and hydroponic houses to area farmers?

Our idea is that we would each bring certain resources to make the whole more than the sum of the parts. We believe that this will help each of us make more money together than if we operated independently. So it’s in all of our interests to stay together.

•    We would get effective and efficient farmers working with us. Small farmers do not waste anything. And we would get more production than what we could do ourselves

•    We would get more variety than we could do ourselves
•    We would get more young farmers into farming
•    We would bring the water and electricity resource that we have

•    We would bring our technical expertise

•    We would bring our marketing and distribution system

•    We would bring our cooling facilities

We will need to adapt to a new normal. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Comments

[eric weinert]

Richard,

I commend your continuing efforts to help our island become more sustainable. I appreciate you speaking out on the issues and leading. I agree with your assessment that oil prices will rise and the consequences to our island community.

I posted a comment on your blog about selling bananas that were grown out-of-state. I apologize for any negative tone. I simply wanted to know if your company ever packed or sold bananas grown out-of-state and if so why.

[Sonia (foodiesleuth)]

Kudos to you, Richard and the other farmers that have banded together to promote and feature our area. You're a forward thinker and I can see your glass is always half full. Your vision and enterprise will help the rest of us be able to live a sustainable life when the needs come.
You make us proud!