Blog - Food-A-Go-Go

Ocean Era, Inc. – For Marine Life Sustainability

By Dagny Brand “Softening humanity’s footprint on the seas,” Ocean Era, Inc. is pioneering the development of offshore agriculture and farming fish in their natural environment, the ocean. Started as a Kona kampachi farm, Ocean Era is expanding production to raise nanue, moi, and limu in addition to continuing to provide offshore-farmed delicious kampachi to a variety of consumers. Founder and CEO Neil Anthony Sims explained the idea behind the expansion: “We are taking on broader...

Kamahi Produce and Horticulture: To Grow and Conserve

By Dagny Brand On a mission to “curate, grow, and collect valuable plant species from Hawaii and around the world,” Kamahi Produce and Horticulture grows a tropical flower selection and is expanding into fruit trees. The farm is “dedicated to growing food for the local community,” as owner and founder Jason Silverstein explained. Since it was founded in 1998, Kamahi Produce and Horticulture has learned the benefits of many different practical farming techniques and now uses a combination of...

Kekela Farms: A Waimea Town Favorite

By Dagny Brand Established in 2002, Kekela Farms continues to “provide healthy food to the community and to care for the ‘aina” with its new owners Tammy and Amit Singh. The familial values of the farm remain strong as Tammy, Amit, and their three daughters embrace the adventure of farming and engage the community in two weekly markets. “The learning curve has been steep, but with the help of the excellent farm crew who have stayed on, we are continuing to offer the same high quality produce...

Oahu Fresh: Supporting Local at Your Convenience

By Dagny Brand A great way to try fresh products while supporting the local food system is through Oahu Fresh! “We started 11 years ago with a mission to create alternative outlets for local farms,” explained founder and CEO Matt Johnson. Now, Oahu Fresh has grown into a local online food shopping hub, complete with at-home delivery throughout Oahu, where consumers can find produce, value added products, and more. The CSA works with over 100 different producers ranging from large farms to...

Spicy Ninja Sauce: Fire of the Aloha Spirit

By Dagny Brand “Infused with the fire of the aloha spirit,” Spicy Ninja Sauce is on a mission to help Hawaii’s farmers and to bring new meaning to “made in Hawaii,” all while creating bold and delicious Hawaii-inspired hot sauces. Started with $200 and three peppers, as founder Christopher Bornstein explained, Spicy Ninja Sauce now has 20 different creatively-named and crafted vinegar-based hot sauces, all 100% grown, made, and manufactured locally. The company centers around agriculture and...

MetroGrow Hawaii: The Future of Aeroponics

By Dagny Brand An innovative vertical urban farm, MetroGrow Hawaii uses aeroponics to “provide high quality produce for the local restaurant and gourmet markets,” as Founder Kerry Kakazu said. “As we face more climate challenges and reduced resource availability, it will be essential to explore alternative forms of agriculture to ensure our food supply, especially in Hawaii.” Since 2013, MetroGrow has been increasing Hawaii’s food self-sufficiency through new farming technology, and the result...

Traveling Plum: A Classic Hawaii Snack

By Dagny Brand Everyone loves a crackseed snack, and Traveling Plum is using all locally grown fruits to combine this Li Hing Mui treat with a mission to support Hawaii agriculture. “Crackseed that’s local to Hawaii and free of preservatives, food coloring, and aspartame means we’re eating better. It means our children are eating better,” explained Founder Robert Ramshur, who uses natural fermentation and probiotics to make his crackseed and to help with Hawaii’s food security. Traveling Plum...

Beyond Pastry Studio: The Ultimate Baker Experience

By Dagny Brand Beyond Pastry Studio is engaging the community through both the flavors it offers and the experiences it will bring as it grows into a workshop area for developing bakers. Founder Cristina Nishioka is proud to be opening a space where people can come to bake, create, innovate, and collaborate. While she puts the finishing touches on her studio, Nishioka is holding pop-ups with a few of the delicious treats that people can find...

Kō Hana Farms: Hawaiian Sugarcane

By Dagny Brand Heirloom Hawaiian sugarcane once again grows proudly across hundreds of acres on the central and north shores of Oahu. Kō Hana Farms, the sister company of Kō Hana Distillers, cultivates over 30 varieties of kō, or sugarcane. Each cane variety has distinctive coloring, leaf patterns, flavors, and places in local culture. Farm Manager Derek Sheldon said, “It’s humbling to be part of a stewardship project that has allowed these canes to thrive again, and to share and connect...

IL Gelato Hawaii: As Authentic As It Gets!

By Dagny Brand Summer is here, and IL Gelato is making authentic, natural, and award winning gelato and sorbetto for the community! Owner Dirk Koeppenkastrop studied the art of making gelato in Bologna, Italy, and since 2010, he and his wife Nicole Lueker have found multiple ways to provide the delicious creation to Hawaii. “The unique part of IL Gelato is that we do a whole array of things,” said Koeppenkastrop, emphasizing that in addition to selling wholesale and retail gelato and holding...

Ocean Era, Inc. – For Marine Life Sustainability

Kamahi Produce and Horticulture: To Grow and Conserve

Kekela Farms: A Waimea Town Favorite

Oahu Fresh: Supporting Local at Your Convenience

Spicy Ninja Sauce: Fire of the Aloha Spirit

MetroGrow Hawaii: The Future of Aeroponics

Traveling Plum: A Classic Hawaii Snack

Beyond Pastry Studio: The Ultimate Baker Experience

Kō Hana Farms: Hawaiian Sugarcane

IL Gelato Hawaii: As Authentic As It Gets!

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