Honolulu, HI – This week, the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation (HAF) launches a series of workshops to support the growing community of small farmers, including Thai farmers, in the HAF Ag Park at Kunia. The workshops will cover Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and take place on October 4 and 5 at the HAF Ag Park in Kunia. The workshops will be conducted in English alongside a live Thai translator. Written learning materials will also be provided in Thai to the farmers.
HAF Ag Park farmers will be updated on current requirements and standards of GAP. GAP ensures farmed fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled and stored to minimize the risks of food safety hazards, as per industry recognized food safety practices and guidelines established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Farmers may choose to apply for a voluntary GAP audit to verify their farming business has implemented acceptable protocols to minimize contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables by adhering to the standards.
In addition to offering a live Thai translator at the upcoming GAP workshop, HAF will also be providing a Thai translator to the West Oʻahu Soil and Water Conservation District farmers education workshops––Together We Farm––later this month.
HAF resources for farmers in the HAF Ag Park include regularly scheduled workshops designed to meet farmers’ needs, keep them up to date on new agricultural practices, and help them succeed. Workshop topics range from food safety education, infrastructure and technical assistance, and business education, with information offered by partner organizations.
“We are pleased to be able to provide educational workshops to our farmers, including our Thai immigrant farmers at the educational workshops.” said HAF executive director Denise Yamaguchi. “Our hope is that these workshops give our farmers information and materials to better them as farmers, as well as their farm operations.”
The HAF Ag Park at Kunia was established in 2011 and contains 220 acres of land dedicated to diversified agricultural production. The farmers currently grow taro, various leafy greens and lettuces, bananas, eggplant, beans, peppers, tomatoes, daikon, long squash, radish, papaya, and avocado. HAF is responsible for subleasing lands to farmers, managing the day-to-day maintenance and operations of the park, all of which are overseen by the HAF Ag Park Manager.
About Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created to promote agriculture and farming. Established in 2007, HAF’s mission is to support and sustain Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry by addressing critical needs and services of farmers and the agricultural industry in Hawai‘i, and by better connecting the farmers with the community and vice-versa.