Ilagan hosts ag talk story in Pahoa (March 22)
Bring your ideas, concerns and questions for a talk story session with agriculture and industry experts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 22 at the Pahoa Community Center.
“Food is a basic necessity that many struggle to obtain. Cultivating sustainable farming and encouraging agricultural development is necessary for our community, our island, to not only survive, but to thrive,” District 4 Council Member Greggor Ilagan said.
The community discussion will include individuals from the Hawaii Papaya Association and the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Agriculture programs.
“We need to get boots on the ground to help people with all aspects of gardening and agriculture,” said Bruce Mathews, PhD, Interim Dean of UH-Hilo’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM).
An overview of the UH Hilo Agriculture programs, workshops, education and possibly grant funds will be discussed.
“We want to get to know your [Puna’s] concerns and needs, and offer our assistance to farmers in vital agriculture sectors,” Mathews said.
A sign-up sheet for future vermicomposting workshops given by horticulturist, Dr. Norman Arancon, will also be available at the talk-story session.
For those interested in learning more about composting with the power of earthworms, e-mail Dr. Arancon at normanq@hawaii.edu.
“Everyone is invited. Whether you’re a home gardener, local business, farm expert or beginner, get your ideas and concerns heard,” Ilagan said.
For further information regarding, contact Ilagan at 965- 2712 or gilagan@hawaiicounty.gov.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
FDA Produce Safety Rule
Today starts the first series of question and answer sessions with the FDA at 11 AM EST. Today’s topic will cover understanding exemptions to the proposed Produce Safety Rule. We ask that you keep your questions relevant to the topic.
Please review the attached document which may help you follow along with the discussion and help answer questions you may have about exclusions and/or exemptions to the proposed Produce Safety Rule.
The session will be recorded and available on the PSA website after the event.
The call-in information is below. No registration is necessary. All participants will be muted upon entry and able to ask questions via a moderated Q & A session. Please plan to be on the call 5 minutes prior to the start to ensure you are present for the introduction and instructions on how to ask questions.
Dial toll-free: 866-906-9888
Enter passcode: 8140591
What You Need to Know: Proposed Rule on Standards for Produce Safety Under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
Proposed Rule at a Glance
What is FDA doing?
FDA is issuing a proposed rule to establish science--based standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on domestic and foreign farms. The proposed rule is required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Who would be covered?
- The proposed rule would apply to farms that grow, harvest, pack or hold most fruits and vegetables when those fruits and vegetables are in their raw or natural (unprocessed) state.
- The proposed rule would not apply to certain produce: produce that is rarely consumed raw (such as potatoes), produce that will receive processing including a kill-step (with certain documentation), and produce for personal or on-farm consumption.
- The proposed rule would not apply (or would only partially apply) to certain farms.
See the attached Decision Tree for more information.
What would the proposed standards cover?
They would focus on commonly identified routes of microbial contamination of produce, including:
(1) agricultural water (2) farm worker hygiene (3) manure and other additions to the soil (4) animals in growing areas, and (5) equipment, tools and buildings. There are also specific proposed standards for sprouts.
When would the new requirements be effective?
If you are covered by the rule (see attached flowchart) you would have the following amount of time after the effective date (the effective date is 60 days after the FINAL rule is published in the Federal Register) to comply.
- Very small businesses, defined as having an average annual value of food sold during the previous three years of no more than $250,000, would have four years after the effective date to comply; for some water requirements, they would have six years.
- Small businesses, defined as having an average annual value of food sold during the previous three years of no more than $500,000, would have three years after the effective date to comply; for some of the water requirements, they would have five years.
- Other businesses would have to comply two years after the effective date. They would have four years to comply with some of the water requirements.
What if I need more information? Go to http://www.fda.gov/Food/
Please review the attached document which may help you follow along with the discussion and help answer questions you may have about exclusions and/or exemptions to the proposed Produce Safety Rule.
The session will be recorded and available on the PSA website after the event.
The call-in information is below. No registration is necessary. All participants will be muted upon entry and able to ask questions via a moderated Q & A session. Please plan to be on the call 5 minutes prior to the start to ensure you are present for the introduction and instructions on how to ask questions.
Dial toll-free: 866-906-9888
Enter passcode: 8140591
What You Need to Know: Proposed Rule on Standards for Produce Safety Under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
Proposed Rule at a Glance
What is FDA doing?
FDA is issuing a proposed rule to establish science--based standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on domestic and foreign farms. The proposed rule is required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Who would be covered?
- The proposed rule would apply to farms that grow, harvest, pack or hold most fruits and vegetables when those fruits and vegetables are in their raw or natural (unprocessed) state.
- The proposed rule would not apply to certain produce: produce that is rarely consumed raw (such as potatoes), produce that will receive processing including a kill-step (with certain documentation), and produce for personal or on-farm consumption.
- The proposed rule would not apply (or would only partially apply) to certain farms.
See the attached Decision Tree for more information.
What would the proposed standards cover?
They would focus on commonly identified routes of microbial contamination of produce, including:
(1) agricultural water (2) farm worker hygiene (3) manure and other additions to the soil (4) animals in growing areas, and (5) equipment, tools and buildings. There are also specific proposed standards for sprouts.
When would the new requirements be effective?
If you are covered by the rule (see attached flowchart) you would have the following amount of time after the effective date (the effective date is 60 days after the FINAL rule is published in the Federal Register) to comply.
- Very small businesses, defined as having an average annual value of food sold during the previous three years of no more than $250,000, would have four years after the effective date to comply; for some water requirements, they would have six years.
- Small businesses, defined as having an average annual value of food sold during the previous three years of no more than $500,000, would have three years after the effective date to comply; for some of the water requirements, they would have five years.
- Other businesses would have to comply two years after the effective date. They would have four years to comply with some of the water requirements.
What if I need more information? Go to http://www.fda.gov/Food/
Saturday, March 16, 2013
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Thursday, March 14, 2013
Farm bill still in limbo
Farm bill still in limbo
A continuing resolution to fund the government through Sept. 30 is expected to be pass Congress by late March, but progress on a new five-year farm bill remains elusive, industry leaders said in mid-March.
Congress seems poised to pass a continuing budget resolution to fund the federal government through September, but the work on a new farm bill remains tied up with the overall budget picture, said Tom O’Brien, Washington, D.C.-based representative for the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association.
The House passed a continuing resolution that funds agriculture programs at 87% of 2012 levels to account for the sequester, according to a report from the Organic Trade Association. The Senate is considering a measure that is more generous to agriculture programs. Both houses of Congress should come together to pass a reconciled bill before March 27, O’Brien said.
House and Senate agriculture leaders have said they need budget numbers before they proceed to work on a five-year farm bill, said Dale Moore, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based American Farm Bureau Federation.
“We think it is very important to get a new five-year farm bill done this year,” he said.
Unfortunately, there remains deep differences between Republicans and Democrats on how to proceed with resolving budget issues
“There is a lot of debate and not much resolution yet,” Moore said.
A continuing resolution to fund the government through Sept. 30 is expected to be pass Congress by late March, but progress on a new five-year farm bill remains elusive, industry leaders said in mid-March.Congress seems poised to pass a continuing budget resolution to fund the federal government through September, but the work on a new farm bill remains tied up with the overall budget picture, said Tom O’Brien, Washington, D.C.-based representative for the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association.
The House passed a continuing resolution that funds agriculture programs at 87% of 2012 levels to account for the sequester, according to a report from the Organic Trade Association. The Senate is considering a measure that is more generous to agriculture programs. Both houses of Congress should come together to pass a reconciled bill before March 27, O’Brien said.
House and Senate agriculture leaders have said they need budget numbers before they proceed to work on a five-year farm bill, said Dale Moore, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based American Farm Bureau Federation.
“We think it is very important to get a new five-year farm bill done this year,” he said.
Unfortunately, there remains deep differences between Republicans and Democrats on how to proceed with resolving budget issues
“There is a lot of debate and not much resolution yet,” Moore said.
Monday, March 11, 2013
CTAHR to kick off distinguished lecture series with talk on public outreach
The University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is set to host the first talk in its Dean’s Distinguished Lectureship series with a lecture on public education and outreach with regard to agricultural issues.The talk, scheduled to be given by University of Florida Professor Tracy Irani on Tuesday, April 2, from 2:00-3:00 pm in Kuykendall 101, is entitled “Bridging the Green Divide: The Role of Public Issues Education in Enhancing Public Understanding of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Land Grant System.”
The lecture series is a new initiative by CTAHR’s dean, Maria Gallo. Its aim is bring notable experts in a variety of agriculture- and human resource-related fields to UH to share their knowledge.
The University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is set to host the first talk in its Dean’s Distinguished Lectureship series with a lecture on public education and outreach with regard to agricultural issues.The talk, scheduled to be given by University of Florida Professor Tracy Irani on Tuesday, April 2, from 2:00-3:00 pm in Kuykendall 101, is entitled “Bridging the Green Divide: The Role of Public Issues Education in Enhancing Public Understanding of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Land Grant System.”
The lecture series is a new initiative by CTAHR’s dean, Maria Gallo. Its aim is bring notable experts in a variety of agriculture- and human resource-related fields to UH to share their knowledge.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Local students participate in Agriculture Awareness Day - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL
Local students participate in Agriculture Awareness Day - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Over 600 elementary students left their classrooms on Friday to participate in Oahu's Agriculture and Environmental Awareness Day. The event was hosted by UH Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and took place at UH's Urban Garden in Pearl City.
The purpose of the event was to help educate keiki about the importance of agriculture and sustainability.
"The first thing we want to do is make students, 5th graders during the most formative time of their years, more aware of the depth and breadth of agriculture natural resource management in Hawaii and worldwide," said Charles Kinoshita of CTAHR.
Kinoshita hopes the experience will inspire kids to consider agriculture as a possible career choice. He also stressed the importance of Hawaii reducing its dependence on imported food.
Food security is a big issue but as the population increases, so does the carbon footprint that is created from transporting all of the supplies to Hawaii.
"So all of (the exhibits) are trying to pitch to the youth, the importance of sustainability for Hawaii and as I said, we only produce 10-20% of our food," said Kinoshita. "If we can produce more of it in the state, number one we will become more food secure."
Exhibits include artificial insemination, compost-creating earth worms and an invasive species-sniffing beagle.
The public is invited to attend the second day of the CTAHR event on Saturday, March 9 from 9:00 a.m until 12:00 p.m.
Copyright 2013 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Lawyer Paul Alston Grows Poha Berries in Space Time - Hawaii Business - March 2013 - Hawaii
Lawyer Paul Alston Grows Poha Berries in Space Time - Hawaii Business - March 2013 - Hawaii
About six years ago, Paul Alston bought 20 acres in Volcano on Hawaii Island.
The plot was zoned for agriculture and Alston, who grew up in urban Southern California, had no idea what he was getting himself into.
“After we got married, I told (my wife) I’d never own a lawn mower,” says Alston, 65, president and director of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, one of Hawaii’s largest law firms. “Now we have a tractor to do the mowing.”
Alston and his wife, Tanya, who grew up on a dairy farm in Hilo, operate a small poha-berry farm, growing about 2,000 pounds of the golden berries a year and selling them to jam makers and customers such as the Halekulani hotel, Tango Café and Haliimaile General Store on Maui.
“It’s very labor-intensive, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Alston says.
Poha – or cape gooseberry – is indigenous to South America and arrived in Hawaii in the 1820s. It’s often made into jelly and jam, but Alston also dehydrates it to put in salads, mixes it with prosecco and uses it on meat, and turns the berry into ice cream.
“We’ve had every preparation known to man,” he says.
Only about an acre is devoted to poha; the other 19 acres are home to three head of cattle, three sheep, five chickens, about 100 fruit trees and a small garden with corn, squash and a pumpkin patch that yielded 50-pound gourds last year.
Alston says he tries at least once a month to escape from Bishop Street to Hawaii Island, where he also has an office.
“It’s just really gratifying to be able to grow things,” he says. “Unlike lawyering, where you move paper, this, you actually see progress. … It balances your mind.”
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Photo: Thinkstock.com
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The plot was zoned for agriculture and Alston, who grew up in urban Southern California, had no idea what he was getting himself into.
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Poha berries and Alston’s farm on Hawaii Island.
Photo: Tanya Alston
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Alston and his wife, Tanya, who grew up on a dairy farm in Hilo, operate a small poha-berry farm, growing about 2,000 pounds of the golden berries a year and selling them to jam makers and customers such as the Halekulani hotel, Tango Café and Haliimaile General Store on Maui.
“It’s very labor-intensive, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Alston says.
Poha – or cape gooseberry – is indigenous to South America and arrived in Hawaii in the 1820s. It’s often made into jelly and jam, but Alston also dehydrates it to put in salads, mixes it with prosecco and uses it on meat, and turns the berry into ice cream.
“We’ve had every preparation known to man,” he says.
Only about an acre is devoted to poha; the other 19 acres are home to three head of cattle, three sheep, five chickens, about 100 fruit trees and a small garden with corn, squash and a pumpkin patch that yielded 50-pound gourds last year.
Alston says he tries at least once a month to escape from Bishop Street to Hawaii Island, where he also has an office.
“It’s just really gratifying to be able to grow things,” he says. “Unlike lawyering, where you move paper, this, you actually see progress. … It balances your mind.”
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