Page 28 - Living Aloha Magazine January February 2017 Issue

healthy Business Spotlight Maui

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The FuTuRE of (Organic & Regenerative)

FOOd ON MAui

by Gerry Dameron and Jenny Pell

The Future of Food — Which Storyline Will Prevail?

Maui County, along with all of Hawaii, is approaching a defining moment in history
with respect to the future of food production and distribution in our island society.

It could become even more perilous healthy, and affordable local food is can provide, but HOW we as a
than it is now, and it could become the better and needed way forward modern Hawaii society dedicate
magnificent. There are many serious for food security across Hawaii. our available resources (financial,
challenges facing us, along with human, and land) so that we can
dozens of encouraging opportunities what happens when feed our families and our visitors
that could lead to a new pathway the Matson Boats stop with our own local bounty.
for affordable and enduring food arriving? Any serious disruption
security for our island culture. in our current food distribution what could cause such food
channels leaves Hawaii vulnerable distribution disruptions? A
Challenges 2017: Fragile to serious food shortages and Long Beach dock workers strike, a
Food security for Maui and would result in our grocery shelves decline in Mexican food exports, a
for all of hawaii. The State of becoming empty in a matter of global economic crisis, a hurricane?
Hawaii currently imports over 90% days. This realization underscores We are woefully ill-prepared to meet
of its food to feed our 1.4 million the serious food security risk that the challenges of any interruptions
citizens and 8.5 million visitors our entire population faces now. or price hikes, and it is akamai (smart)
annually. Under these prevailing We do know, however, that the to take a serious look at how not only
conditions, shipping companies Hawaiian culture has successfully can we grow our own food, but also
Matson and Young Brothers profit and sustainably fed itself in the past. how we can embed all the requisite
handsomely on our food import Hawaii fed all its people abundantly skills needed to do so in our own
dependence while many local and sustainably through indigenous communities. With a climate perfect
farmers barely earn a living wage to food production practices, as has for year-round growing and plenty of
supply a hungry and growing local been well documented from the sun and rain, Hawaii should be able
food market. Just about everyone times before European intervention. to once again feed all our citizens.
across Hawaii agrees that fresh, The question is not if the A`ina

28 MAUI Living Aloha | JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2017