FoodCorps Recruitment for 2018-19 School Year Begins

January 11, 2018 (BigIslandNow.com)—The national FoodCorps program is currently accepting applications from emerging food justice leaders for the 2018-19 school year.

Service member positions will be available on Hawai‘i Island, as well as in communities in 16 states on the continental U.S. and in the District of Columbia.

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When We Unite To Solve Hawaii’s Problems

January 5, 2018 (Honolulu Civil Beat)—In Hawaii it’s a kakou thing, isn’t it? Collaboration, working together and joint efforts can all be effective ways to solve seemingly unsolvable community problems.

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New Online Store for Local Seeds

December 12, 2017 (Hawai‘i Public Radio)—A new online store allows gardeners and small farmers to purchase local varieties of plants from seed.

Last week, the Hawaiʻi Seed Growers Network unveiled an online store to allow residents to purchase and grow seeds that are adapted to Hawaii’s conditions, soil, pests and disease.

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Hawaii Public Schools serve local beef in December

December 8, 2017 (Hawaii Department of Education)—This month, Hawaii public schools are serving locally raised, grass-fed beef in its hamburger patties. Elementary and middle school students will be served teri hamburger steak, while high school students will enjoy teri loco moco lunches.
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New Website Offers Hawai‘i Local Seeds for Local Needs

December 7, 2018 (Big Island Now)—Small-scale farmers and home gardeners in Hawai‘i now have an additional option for purchasing locally produced seeds.

The Hawai‘i Seed Growers Network, a statewide group of seed producers organized and supported by The Kohala Center’s Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative program, officially launched its online store on Dec. 4, 2017. Customers can pre-order 2018 seed varieties online, with orders shipping in late December.

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Farm to School Success in Hawaii

November 13, 2017 (U.S. Department of Agriculture Blog)—It takes the right amount of water and sunlight for seeds to grow into a thriving garden. So too, it takes the right mix of factors to integrate local foods into communities. Some of these factors include committed stakeholders, planning, collaboration, and financial resources.

Hawaii offers two successful examples of how federal funds can seed local agencies in the cultivation of their community food system goals. Kona Pacific Public Charter School & Friends of Kona Pacific Public Charter School (Kona Pacific) and The Kohala Center, Inc. (TKC) collaborate to advance their shared goals of improving student and community health, the regional agricultural economy, ecological understanding and a connection to native Hawaiian culture.

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2017 Monty Richards Hawaii Island Community Award recipients announced

October 30, 2017 (West Hawaii Today)—The Akamai Workforce Initiative through Hawaii Community Foundation, North Kohala Community Resource Center-Kohala Elementary School Discovery Garden and The Kohala Center are the three recipients of this year’s Bank of Hawaii Foundation Monty Richards Hawaii Island Community Leadership Award.
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Can School Gardens Get Kids To Eat Their Vegetables?

October 20, 2017 (Honolulu Civil Beat)—Students in Lori Kwee’s fourth grade class at Ala Wai Elementary in Honolulu began a recent school garden lesson by discussing the meaning of “aina,” or land, segueing outdoors where they planted cuttings of uala, or sweet potato, then finally sampling the purple flesh of an Okinawan sweet potato.
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Eat healthy: Alliance, KTA team up for National Food Day

October 17, 2017 (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)—The Hawaii Island Food Alliance and KTA Super Stores will celebrate National Food Day from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 24 at KTA’s Puainako, Waimea and Keauhou locations. Food Day aims to support and promote local food and farmers, as well as healthy foods, healthy eating and safe food handling.
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Farm to School month highlights Hawaii Island project

October 1, 2017 (KITV)—October is Farm to School month and a project on Hawaii Island highlights how students are able to eat locally grown produce.
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