RCBDS Past Events

This Kona Coffee Farmer trade show offers all the services and products needed for coffee farming. Melanie Bondera, the rural cooperative development specialist of the Laulima Center will have a table discussing the new services available. Keynote speaker and newly appointed chairman of the State Department of Agriculture, Russell Kokubun, will speak at 1:30 p.m. on The Agricultural Renaissance for Hawai‘i County.

Melanie Bondera, the rural cooperative development specialist of the Laulima Center will be speaking about cooperative businesses as part of the 'Put the Culture back in Agriculture' panel, specifically the potential for a fresh avocado co-op and an avocado oil co-op. Also, bring the entire family to enjoy live entertainment, Hawaiian cultural performances, green fashion, and free guacamole.

This is a one-day comprehensive seminar in Hilo for agricultural businesses and entrepreneurs interested in starting successful agritourism businesses. Topics that will be covered: Marketing/Customer Service/Technology, Farm Readiness, Best Practices/Good Neighbors/Pitfalls, Hawai‘i County Agricultural Tourism Ordinances, and Next Steps/Funding Sources.

Learn about the process of bringing food to market through the use of Community Supported Agriculture programs, Farmer's Markets and other direct marketing techniques and bring home a box of fresh veggies. Guest Speakers: Lisa Asagi, Farm Bureau Farmer's Markets and Jill Nordby, Holoholo General Store.

Energy Efficiency Training Workshop Date & Time: Friday, August 24, 2012, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  Location: Aupuni Center Conference Room, Hilo, Hawai‘i  If your farm energy cost is too high and you want to reduce it but aren’t sure where to begin, this workshop will get you started. This workshop will educate you about energy efficiency and how to […]

Workshop Overview Come hear noted IPM expert Dr. Luis Aristizabal speak on CBB. What has been successful internationally? What is different in Hawai‘i? Learn about CBB behaviors, when does it swarm, when does it move into the trees. Learn proper times to spray and trap as well as effective harvest techniques. Hear a new perspective from another growing region. Bring your best questions and get them answered. Two days of classroom and field lectures will cover effective control of the CBB pest.

Sherri Miller owns Moonrise Tea Gardens near Hilo and is a certified Master Gardener. Her training in Natural Farming with Master Cho began in 2010. For more information on Sherri,click here. The 12-week course will cover how to make all of Master Cho's inputs and how to apply inputs during the life cycles of both plant crops and livestock. Students who complete the full course will be awarded a Natural Farmer certificate by CGNF Hawai‘i.Course Dates: September 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 21, 24, 27; October 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29; November 1, 5, 8, 15, 19, 26, 29; Holidays: November 6 (Election Day), November 12 (Veteran's Day), November 22 (Thanksgiving). For more information, please contact Sherri at Moonrisetea@gmail.com.

22nd Annual Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers Hawai‘i International Conference Date: September 13–16, 2012 Location: University of Hawai‘i Campus Center, Honolulu Download the poster. Download the brochure with schedule. For more information, contact Ken Love at 808-323-2417 or e-mail ken@mycoffee.net

Cooperatives provide vital links between farm and table, serving their communities through a successful business model of member ownership. Consider how cooperative business models will contribute to the future of our local and regional food systems at this six-state conference. Contact:

What is the outlook for the Agricultural Industry in Hawai‘i? Hear from expert farmers on the challenges and rewards of farming. Assess your own readiness to farm. Examine your expectations and constraints related to being a farmer, and assess your current knowledge, skills and physical resources. Worksheets will be provided. Learn more about the new UH program FarmStarter Hawai‘i, a comprehensive and practical training program built around the real world needs of tomorrow’s farmers.