Hawaii Organic Farmers Association

Kauai Kunana Dairy: Grower of the Month
The Kaua'i County Farm Bureau sponsors the Grower of the Month.
Its purpose is to showcase successful bureau members who are making
positive contributions to the agricultural economic sector of this island.

Let’s start this feature with a big finish: Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas!! More on this later.
Bob and Louisa Wooton come from farming families on the mainland and their Kauai Kunana Dairy continues this incredibly special legacy. If the extent of your familiarity with farmers doesn’t go any further than occasional visits to our Sunshine Markets, you are missing out on a truly wonderful experience. There isn’t a farmer on this planet that will tell you it is an easy life style, but when it engages their families the rewards are deeply enriching. A visit to the Wooton’s dairy is an affirmation of this blessing.
Bob came here from Ohio and Louisa was raised in west Texas. In 1999, twenty years after each of them began their respective farm lives on Kauai, they started their dairy, which is the only one on the island. The heart and soul of their operation are the goats. Livestock is very demanding work. The goats must be milked twice a day, every day. As Louisa is quick to point out, “Goats do not know about Sundays.”
The Kauai Kunana Dairy is best known for its goat cheese that can be purchased at a variety of outlets around the island. They have developed a fantastic product line from goat’s milk, featuring soap, lotion, shampoo, and hair conditioner. This is only part of the overall operation. The farm is certified organic for its produce, which consists of bananas, citrus, avocado, noni, and varieties of herbs and vegetables, not to mention free-range eggs. Thanks to grants from the Kauai Agricultural Development Program, KADP, they now have a certified kitchen, which creates incredible opportunities for processed foods and an endless series of value added products. This is as good a time as any to put the “family” in family farm. Louisa oversees most the operational aspects, and somehow finds time to teach an Ag in the Classroom program at Kula School, in addition to being a passionate advocate for the future of farming on Kauai. The KCFB and Louisa share a very strong interest in the creation of intelligent legislation regarding the necessity for worker housing. The relatively recent attention on sustainability and food independence are no more than well intentioned ideas if we do not recognize the day-to-day needs of our farmers, and that includes protecting ag lands, access to affordable energy and water, and insuring a good quality of life for these hard working, invaluable neighbors of ours.
Bob Wooton keeps the whole farm in one piece. Repairs and maintenance are an inevitable
reality of this way of life.
Income generation is always a challenge and you can increase revenue by doing more of the same, and you can also diversify your efforts. Generally, farms are already supporting families, but when the children become adults and actually want to become full participants in the operation, the income must increase. At the dairy, diversification is the strategy. Son, Ryan Wooton, and his wife, Sarah, returned about a year and a half ago. Sarah is thrilled to have an opportunity to contribute to growing the business and is quick to point out that it is also a lifestyle choice. Ryan spends his time with the vegetables, herbs and fruits. Amongst other things, Sarah works in the kitchen, baking banana and mango breads, creating granola mixed with mango, papaya and pineapple, making pesto and Hawaiian Chile Pepper Sauce. Troy Wooton, age 18, is a senior at Kula High and his chores include milking and feeding the goats. Plus, if we didn’t mention his name, there would undoubtedly be unrest at the dinner table.
You will find the Wooton’s and their mouth watering and body-pampering array of produce and products every Saturday at the Farmers Market in Kilauea and the Hanalei Neighborhood Center, and Tuesday at Waipa in Hanalei. They are just about to start filling orders on their web site: www.kauaikunanadairy.com, plus you can always call 828-0095. Group tours can even be arranged.

Don’t forget to ask about the Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas, either.

2007 HOFA Board of Directors

2007 HOFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Franz Weber-President, first elected 2004
Michael Alms-Vice President, first elected 2003
Dave Gelber-Treasurer, first elected 2006
Elisha Goodman-Secretary, first elected 2004
Curtis Faltstrom-Oahu Director-At-Large, first elected 2003
Rosa Russell– Kauai Director-At-Large, first elected 2006
Patti Valentine– Kauai Director-At-Large (newly elected)

All HOFA Directors are nominated and elected at annual membership meetings by HOFA members in good standing. They are volunteer and commit to a 2-year term on the Board. They come from a diverse background to represent the broad spectrum of HOFA membership. They are organic food distributors, landscape architects, farmers, activists, crop input suppliers, and of course, organic consumers just like you! The HOFA office is staffed part-time by:
Maire Sanford, Office Administrator
Kelly Lange, Certification Coordinator and Educational Program Director
Deborah Ward, Quality Control Officer

Want to Join the HOFA Board of Trustees?

We are inviting experienced and knowledgeable organic producers and advocates to serve in an advisory capacity on the Board of Trustees.
Prior to the enactment of the Federal Organic Rule in 2001, HOFA required all Board of Directors (BOD) to be certified organic producers. When HOFA decided to apply for accreditation under the National Organic Program and continue to be the only local source for organic certification services, we were required to change our by-laws and remove responsible certified entities as Directors on the Board.
At the time, many HOFA members felt that without farmer representation on the BOD HOFA would not function within their best interest. After five years as an accredited certifying agency, we are confident that HOFA members have continually elected diverse and dedicated individuals to serve each term. The broader selection of candidates also provides a greater spectrum of expertise for our certified producers and the organic industry.
HOFA does still have a place for certified producers to be active in the decision making process. The Board of Trustees has been a part of HOFA since its inception and allows for certified operators and other HOFA members to work on standing committees and give input on BOD directives. The BOD has recently established a set of guidelines for members who may want to serve on the Board.
We encourage you to take a look at the guidelines and see if you or someone you know may be interested in joining the team of Trustees.
Current Board of Trustees:
Lily Boerner, David Bourgoin, Diana Dahl, Vincent Mina, Damian Paul, and Bob Shaffer.
Roles of Trustees
1. Trustees must be HOFA members in good standing.
2. Individuals can be nominated to the Board of Trustees by any HOFA member, staff, or Director on the Board.
3. Trustees can be added or removed by the BOD at any time.
4. Trustees are expected attend at least one BOD meeting per year.
5. The BOD will provide new Trustees with a list of standing committees to select from such as: legislative, GMO, fundraising, etc.
6. Trustees are expected choose a committee to serve based on their personal knowledge, experience, and ability to serve.
7. The BOD committee chairs will contact Trustees on a regular basis and keep them involved in particular committee tasks.

Cost-Share Assistance for Certification Fees!

Are you thinking about getting your organic operation certified? There is cost-share assistance money still available from the Department of Agriculture.
If you are a Hawaii organic producer or handler who received your organic certification from a USDA accredited certifying agent between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2008, you are eligible for 75% reimbursement cost-share assistance up to a maximum of $500.00
Grants will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis, based on postmarked date or date received, whichever is earlier.
In cooperation with USDA, the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Development Division will be distributing this grant. Call (808) 973-9595 for an application form, or download this form at the DOA website: www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/forms.htm go to Agricultural Development Division, Market Development Branch and click on “Application for Cost-Share Assistance under the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program”.

Don’t wait until it is too late!
Call HOFA for details on the organic certification process or to take out an application packet.

HOFA Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8-4 pm
(808) 969-7789 phone
(808) 969-7759 FAX

Certification Fee Update

In 2002, the National Organic Program (NOP) performed its first on-site audit to establish HOFA as Hawaii’s only locally based accredited certification agency. Every five years the NOP requires an on-site audit to ensure that our certification practices are in compliance with the Federal Rule. In addition, we are required to submit annual reports and results from our own internal audit procedures.
The costs of maintaining our accreditation over the past five years, based on fees we are charged by the NOP, has increased by more than 1000%.
We have not raised our base fees since 2002 and are prompted to increase certification revenue in order to continue operations and plan for the next on-site audit.
We hope you understand the importance of supporting a locally based certifier and our efforts to provide affordable, quality service.

Effective June 1, 2007
Base certification fee will increase to $425.

WE’VE MOVED!
HOFA office is now located at:
474 Kalanikoa St. Suite #203, in Hilo.
NEW OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday 8-4pm
Stop by or call us: Phone (808) 969-7789 fax (808) 969-7759
Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
www.hawaiiorganicfarmers.org

ADVERTISEMENTS

Hawaii’s Organic Products Directory

Your source for complete information on all of Hawaii’s certified organic producers, organic amendment suppliers, retail stores, farmer’s markets, and much more.
First Edition June 2007
Produced by HOFA with funds provided through Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation

Job Opening
Brokerage of Quality Foods, Inc. Serving Hawaii since 1986

Organization that represents multiple #1 leading food manufacturers of organic and natural products distributed in Hawaii by national distributors.
Position:
Full-time, 40 hrs/week
Sales assistant to support the President and sales staff
Immediate opening

Requirements:
Individual must have strong knowledge in MS Outlook Express, Word, Microsoft Excel. Must be organized, multi task and have the ability to meet deadlines under time constraints, a customer-service oriented attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, and must enjoy dealing with customers and maintain professional appearance for potential of going into sales.

Salary: Negotiable

Benefits: Full medical, dental, and drug insurance, Sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays, profit sharing, pension plan.

Contact: Katy Okuyama, President
1110 University Ave #307 Honolulu, HI 96826
Ph: 947-4531 Fax: 945-3798 E-mail: bqf@aloha.net

Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA)
P.O. Box 6863, Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 969-7789 Fax: (808) 969-7759
Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
Copyright 2002