A new opportunity to buy locally grown products has opened in the Makalapua Shopping Center on Wednesday afternoons. The Kona Sunset Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to sunset. Zarine Dorabji decided to open this market adding to her job as market manager at the Saturday morning Keauhou Farmers Market. She wanted to offer farm fresh products to the after-work and North Kona crowd who might not make it to the Saturday morning venue.
This new market offers a place for those who live or work north of town to get fresh produce or food prepared from local ingredients. Its location makes it easy for those heading south from work as well as Kailua-Kona workers headed home to find something local for their evening meal or to shop for fruit and vegetables for the week.
Dorabji has lined up some great vendors. Many of the farmers have worked with her at the Saturday market and are anxious to see if the success of the Saturday market is contagious. Among the items that will be offered in addition to farm fresh produce are local beef, island eggs, fresh caught fish, locally smoked ham and bacon, honey, macnuts and, of course, freshly roasted Kona coffee.
In addition to fresh meat and produce, many value-added products made from local products will be available, including fresh squeezed juices, mamaki tea concentrates, exotic fruit jams and syrups, macadamia nut hummus, homemade baked goods and artisan breads, frozen desserts and Italian gelatos in exotic flavors. Additional offerings include other value-added products and prepared foods made locally.
If you are looking for skin care or healing products handcrafted from local ingredients, you can also find these at the new market. Healing salves, essential oils and aromatherapy products will all be included in the products offered.
This market is designed as a year-round, community-based venue featuring agricultural products grown locally on small family farms, many of which use organic practices exclusively. The market’s mission is to offer economic and social opportunities for residents to support sustainability in the local agricultural economy.
The Kona Sunset Farmers Market’s vision is to help local farmers and food producers thrive as a way to increase Hawaii’s food security. In addition to the local food security benefits, farmers markets offer an opportunity to add fresher, tastier and more nutritious produce to our meals. Buying local produce and products can also give us a chance to expand our palettes and develop a taste for some of the new crops farmers are growing. Some of these can’t be grown elsewhere in the U.S. and many are simply varieties too delicate or hard to grow to be carried in the commercial marketplace. Tastings of some of these new and unusual items will be offered periodically at the market.
Another advantage of shopping at a local farmers market is the chance to become acquainted with the farmers that make these markets possible. Market vendors are happy to share their growing process with you, offer information on the variety of flavors and give recipe advice. The sense of community that develops between farmers and consumers is invaluable to the ongoing success of agriculture in Hawaii.
The communal atmosphere of a farmer’s market is increased by the participation of community groups offering information and entertainment to shoppers. This market is planning to include these groups in its family-friendly, food-centered educational events and activities. Tastings, cooking demonstration and seasonal celebrations are scheduled. Educational workshops are also in process to offer information on preparation, preservation and enjoyment of the food grown here.
In addition to the many offerings of this new market, its location offers a dynamite sunset view. Kmart’s parking lot is an excellent spot to witness a green flash along with colorful Kona sunsets. Vendors plan to offer sunset specials for those who come for the view.
To best serve the community, this market will be accepting payment with EBT cards and credit cards. It will also offer a loyalty program, offering points to frequent shoppers. The market’s soft opening was Wednesday. If you missed that, check it out this week and watch for the grand opening coming up soon.
Tropical gardening helpline
Ashley asks: Lately, I have been seeing lots of small, cream-colored moths with black spots on their wings at my house and outside near my outdoor lights at night. They are laying eggs inside my house. Do you know what these moths are, what their caterpillars are feeding on and how to get rid of them and their eggs?
Answer: It sounds like you have the newly introduced fireweed moth (Secusio extensa) at your house. These moths were introduced here and on Maui by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in March 2013 to control the spread of their main host, fireweed. The moths lay small eggs, about 1/8-inch long that develop into a black or dark gray caterpillar that eats this noxious weed as well as another related weed, Cape ivy. The caterpillar is a nighttime feeder and is not known to eat other plants.
Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is an herb in the Asteraceae family native to South Africa and was likely introduced into Hawaii during the 1980s through contaminated seeds. Since introduction, it has become well established, particularly in pasture land on the Big Island and Maui. The weed contains an alkaloid that is toxic to cattle and horses and somewhat toxic to sheep and goats. Though most ungulates will avoid the plant, it has caused death of livestock in many areas where the plant is plentiful and its consumption is unavoidable.
The weed has a daisy like yellow flower that grows in low clusters usually less than 24 inches high. The seed heads that follow flowering resemble dandelion seed heads with thousands of seeds that are dispersed by the wind, as well as on animals, vehicles and clothing. The leaves are thin and lance-like with relatively smooth margins.
Though this species did not immediately catch on, it seems many people are seeing it now. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hoping it will help control fireweed so they are encouraging people who see the moths, the eggs or the caterpillars not to destroy them. They have advised that, if possible, people should move the moths outside and turn off lights that attract them so they will return to an area near fireweed to lay their eggs and allow their caterpillars to feed and pupate, thus participating in weed control. Of course, with serious and annoying infestations, this may not be possible; however, where easily accomplished, do try to save as many of these moths and their progeny as possible.
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by certified master gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook.