Support Localicious® restaurants who buy local and contribute to K-12 ag education
HONOLULU, HI – March 1st marks the beginning of Localicious® month, a month-long statewide campaign of the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation (HAF) to support restaurants that buy local while also raising funds for ag education programs in Hawaiʻi public schools. In its sixth year, Localicious® encourages consumers to choose a Localicious® restaurant––a restaurant which consciously buys from local producers––when they dine out. Each Localicious® restaurant, in turn, creates a dish made with a locally grown, caught or raised product and pledges to support ag education in our public school classrooms.
Education is one of the main pillars of HAF’s mission––to connect farmers directly with the community and address the critical needs of Hawaiʻi’s agriculture industry. HAF’s education programs align the needs of education and agriculture by promoting careers in agriculture at an early age and building an education continuum from K-12. All proceeds raised from Localicious® help fund HAF’s education programs––Where Would We Be Without Seeds, Veggie U, AquaPono Aquaponics, In The Fields, and Kids Cooking Local.
“We are proud to support the Localicious® campaign and support ag education in our public schools, said Michelle Karr-Ueoka, Localicious® Leadership Council Co-Chair and owner and chef of MW Restaurant.
“With the average age of a farmer being 60 years of age, we need to support ag programs that help plant the seed of a career in farming with our children––it is essential to the viability of our agricultural industry in Hawaii.”
“We’re honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of Localicious® where agriculture, restaurants and the community can come together and raise money for ag education to inspire the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and fisherman.” said Jason Wong, President of HFM FoodService. “HFM FoodService is committed to supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Hawaiʻi. Through this campaign we can all play a part in safeguarding the sustainability of Hawaiʻi.”
Since the program’s launch in 2014, Localicious® has raised more than $70,000 to provide approximately 83 public schools and 188 classrooms statewide with garden kits and structured ag-related curriculums. This year’s goal is to raise $80,000. Participating restaurants that raise $500 or more are eligible to adopt one of HAF’s public school classrooms.
Localicious® 2019 is presented by HFM FoodService with additional support provided by Hawai‘i Gas, Paradise Cove, Hawaiʻi News Now, HONOLULU Magazine, and HONOLULU Family Magazine.
For more information and full list of participating restaurants, visit www.localicioushawaii.com.
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.
For more information, visit www.Hawaiiagfoundation.org.
About HFM FoodService
HFM FoodService is a leading Pacific region and statewide wholesale foodservice distributor, and the only broadline foodservice distributor in the Hawaiian islands offering next day deliveries from foodgrade distribution centers on all four of the major Hawaiian Islands, as well as on Guam. HFM offers the finest quality groceries and supplies to restaurants, schools, hotels and resorts, as well as other institutions who prepare meals away from home. HFM FoodService is a proud part of the Sysco Corporation family of companies.
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