Olive Oil Tasting & Spanish Olive Oil Seminar

Olive Oil Tasting & Spanish Olive Oil Seminar

June 5, 2012

Waimea Civic Center

Producers need to manage different kinds of risks including production risks, labor/human risks, legal risks, financial risks and market risks. Crop diversification might be one way to manage market risk. Olives have not been produced commercially in Hawaii and most people know very little about olives.

Dr. Wayne Iwaoka explains the sensory evaluation procedure. Dr. Iwaoka is a Food Scientist at the CTAHR Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences at UHM.

Participants conducting a sensory evaluation of extra virgin olive oil.

Astringent, bitter, fresh, fruity, fusty, musty, green, and spicy are among the many descriptors—words that describe olive oil attributes.

Participants also rated the samples according to their preference.

Ms. Kacie Ho and Wayne Iwaoka presented a seminar on Spanish Olives:

Growing, Harvesting, and Processing.

Kacie is pictured with her parents. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in May, 2012.  Kacie recently accepted a 4-year fellowship offer to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Food Science at Purdue University.

Blueberry Cuttings Showing Promise

Blueberry cutting are showing promise. 

Cuttings are being rooted in an aquaculture cinder system. 

Photo taken May 17, 2012

Risk Management School: Special Field Tour

A special invitation to RMH & LIFE’S

Crop Diversification

Field Tour Blueberry & Tea Field Day and Tour

Special event for Risk Management School’s Coffee Participants

Friday, June 8, 2012

12:00 noon to 4:30 pm

Location: UHM CTAHR Volcano Research Station & Volcano Winery

Hosts: Andrew Kawabata, Randy T. Hamasaki, Andrea Kawabata, and Dr. Stuart T. Nakamoto

Come and join us for a half day tour to learn about alternative crops - blueberry and tea. You will be able to see the different blueberry trials we have including effect of pot size on yield, different blueberry varieties, and pruning methods. We will also visit the tea plantings and be introduced to tea research being conducted at CTAHR.

The visit at the Volcano Winery will allow you to see how they feature local ingredients such as tea as part of their product, a chance for tasting, and a walk through their tea fields.

Both sites are very close to the active vents at the Volcano National Park, so vog can be extremely concentrated depending on the wind conditions. Please take necessary precautions and bring water. Please come prepared for rain and chilly weather too.

Please call Perci at 887-6183 or email proque@hawaii.edu to reserve your spot and to receive last minute updates. Maximum enrollment: 30 participants. Enrollment on a first come first serve basis. We will start a waitlist after we have reached our maximum enrollment.

Open to everyone without regard to race, age, sex, color or disability. Educational activities are accessible for individuals with disabilities. For information or to request an auxiliary aid or service (e.g., sign language interpreter, designated parking, or materials in alternate format), contact Didi @ (808) 887-6183 seven days before the activity/event.

Driving Directions

Directions to the Volcano Research Station: 19-4700 Amaumau Road, Volcano, HI

Coming from Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel: Head northeast/mauka on Palani Rd toward Kuakini Hwy. Take the 1st right onto Kuakini Hwy for 8.4 miles. Kuakini Hwy turns slightly right and becomes Hwy-11/Hawaii Belt Rd for 87.3 miles.

Exit Volcano National Park, go past the 27 mile marker and Haunani Road. Turn left onto Wright Rd for 3.1 miles. Turn right/mauka onto Amaumau Rd.   The Volcano Research Station will be on the right.

Coming from Hilo: Take Hwy-11/Hawaii Belt Rd/ Kanoelehua Ave. to Volcano. Go past the 26-mile marker then turn right onto Wright Rd. for 3.1 miles. Turn right/mauka onto Amaumau Rd. The Volcano Research Station will be on the right.

Directions to Volcano Winery:

Coming from the Volcano Research Station: Head southeast/makai on Amaumau Rd. Turn left at Mahia Rd/Wright Road and continue for 3.1 miles. Go straight through Old Volcano Road and turn right onto Hwy-11/Hawaii Belt Rd toward Kona. Drive for about a mile. Turn right/mauka onto Pii Mauna Dr. Volcano Winery, 35 Pii Mauna Rd will be on the left.

Field day event sponsored by the Risk Management Hawaii and Local & Immigrant Farmer Education Programs in partnership with the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH-CTAHR) and the USDA, Risk Management Agency.

Farm Incubators 101: A webinar from the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project National Technical Assistance Initiative

Join us for a CTAHR Agribusiness Incubator on May 22

This webinar will cover: (a) the basic framework of our new National Farm Incubator Technical Assistance Initiative and how it can help you achieve the programmatic goals of your farm incubator project; (b) the reasons for starting a farm incubator and common strategies for meeting diverse farmer training and support goals; (c) presentations on how veteran incubator projects (New Entry, as well as our project partners ALBA, the Intervale Center, the New Farmer Develop Project, and the Big River Farms Training Program) operate successful and diverse programs; and (d) ample time for Q&A at the end so you can get your individual questions about the National TA project and farm incubators in general answered. We hope you will join us!

Farm Incubators 101: A webinar from the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project National Technical Assistance Initiative

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/826136479

Organic Initiative Applications

News from U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service

300 Ala Moana Blvd., #4-118, Honolulu, HI  96850

June 1st Deadline for Organic Initiative Applications

HONOLULU, April 27, 2012 - Are you a farmer thinking about transitioning to organics?  USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible for funding through the agency's Organic Initiative. Applications for the final ranking period of 2012 are due at NRCS offices by close of business on June 1, 2012.

"With the increased interest in sustainable agriculture, this funding opportunity is a fine time for farmers interested in organics," said Kathleen Dobler, Acting Director for NRCS in the Pacific Islands Area.

The top five Organic Initiative conservation practices are cover crops, nutrient and pest management, seasonal high tunnels, crop rotation, and fencing.  Since 2010, we have helped 15 farmers with certified organic and organic transition technical and financial assistance.  From 2011, we have one completed certified organic contract for eleven acres on Kauai for $9,739 and three organic transition contracts for thirty acres in Hawaii and Maui Counties for $26,598.

Learn more about the Organic Initiative within the Pacific Islands Area at http://www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/organic_initiative_program.html and find out about other NRCS initiatives and programs at http://www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

Crop Diversification: Olive Oil Tasting and Processing

Olive Oil Tasting & Spanish Olive Oil Processing

June 5, 2012 (Tuesday)

Waimea Civic Center Conference Room,

67-5189 Kamamalu Rd., Kamuela, HI 96743

Program:

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Olive oil taste testing

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Talk on Olive fruit harvesting and processing

Tasting of different quality Spanish olive oils and a talk by Kacie Ho and Wayne Iwaoka on “Spanish Olives: Growing, Harvesting, and Processing”

Speakers:

Ms. Kacie Ho and Dr. Wayne Iwaoka.

Kacie is a resident of Waikoloa, HI and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in May, 2012.  She recently accepted a 4-year fellowship offer to pursue a PhD degree in Food Science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. 

Dr. Iwaoka is a Food scientist in the Dept. of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Both spent Fall semester 2011 in a Study Abroad Program in Sevilla, Spain, visited one of the largest olive oil processing plants in Andalucia, and put together a presentation about Spanish olives and olive oil processing.