Dear Soup-er Friends,

MauiCountiAgLogoI wanted to share a wonderful event that I was thrilled to experience. My family and I went to Maui this past spring for a family vacation.  While we were there, we were fortunate to attend, as visitors, the Maui County Ag Festival, an event showcasing many different Hawaiian local companies and their products.

We continue to be interested in LOCAL businesses and individuals that serve their local area, because they provide some of the freshest and best quality products… and ALSO because they reveal the true character – and flavours – of their community.  As the website explains:

On the first Saturday in April, Maui County Farm Bureau along with the farmers, ranchers and agricultural allies present the annual Maui County Agricultural Festival to share agriculture’s vital role in the economy, environment, and lifestyle of Maui.

Held on the lū‘au grounds of Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapū, this is Maui’s prime event to raise awareness about local agriculture on Maui.

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It was a Hawaiian harvest of everything from tropical plants, an abundance of local fruits, banana jerky, sugar cane, maui (pineapple infused) wine, and even local beef was served up on a bun. These were all local companies that were open to chat about their products and happy to offer samples.

Agricultural events such as this offer a fantastic sneak peek into the lifestyle and culture of the area, their land and their food. Just look at some of these pictures!

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There is a brochure explaining this event and the companies that make up Maui.

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Local markets are a great way to learn about the immediate area and its residents… but also a fantastic opportunity to SHOW ourselves to the world!   Just think about our own markets in Alberta, and how much they also reveal about our culture, tastes, and lifestyles.  It’s a real eye-opener!