Agriculture

Organic Program Chopped

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Organic Program Chopped

The state’s only organic-certifying body, the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA), will suspend its program this month, forcing organic farmers in Hawaii to look to the mainland for certification.

Rising costs and a limited client pool prompted the Hilo-based group to end certification, which it began in 1993. HOFA certifies a bounty of products – from coffee to herbs to beer.

“Part of the reason HOFA is not surviving is that we didn’t charge enough,” said Sarah Townsend, HOFA’s certification coordinator. “We’re not big enough to sustain ourselves.”

Some organic farmers on Molokai worry certification from the mainland will come at a higher cost.

“It’s hard enough trying to make a living farming and now we have to go to the mainland?” said Rick Tamanaha of Kaleikoa Farms, an organic papaya farm in Ho`olehua.

Tamanaha’s farm was certified organic by HOFA in October 2007, and he has renewed his certification through the organization every year since. The organic label, he said,  allows his farm to compete with non-organic farms that sell at lower costs.  

Townsend said farmers will see a slight increase in the cost of certification. However, HOFA has also struck a deal with North Dakota-based International Certification Services (ICS) to give HOFA certified-producers discounts on application and certification fees.
 
“They seem like they have the closest philosophy to HOFA,” Townsend said. She is now working with ICS as its Hawaii region customer care specialist to help farmers with the transition.

The two Molokai-based organic inspectors have also notified ICS they want to continue inspecting. James Boswell and Faith Tuipulotu were trained by HOFA in 2008 to do certification inspections, saving Molokai farmers the cost of inspectors’ travel expenses when applying for certification.

Boswell, who works at the University of Hawaii Maui College’s Molokai Farm, said he has not heard back from ICS.

HOFA will end its certifications Sept. 30; farms certified by HOFA will be certified until mid-2011. Townsend said HOFA is now focusing on education and farmer advocacy. 

Rural Hawaii to be Heard

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Hawaii Rural Development Council News Release

As a part of a nation-wide movement, a rural community-improvement council is asking Molokai’s mana`o for how to increase economic opportunities.

The Hawaii Rural Development Council (HRDC) seeks your input, concerns, success stories, and ideas on issues related to rural communities in Hawaii. State Rural Development Councils nationwide are gathering input to be presented to Partners for Rural America and the USDA. This is an opportunity for Hawaii to voice our concerns and successes locally to build on a national action plan to promote enhance rural development strategies.

A facilitated discussion will occur on Molokai on Thursday, Aug. 26 from 6-9 p.m. at Kulana `Oiwi QLCC conference room. Dinner will be provided.

Deadly Nightshades

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Deadly Nightshades

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH College of Tropical Agriculture

The recent deaths of horses, mules and cattle on the island believed to be caused by consuming poisonous plants mixed in hay brings attention to the many poisonous plants we have on the island. The most obvious suspect is one of the deadly nightshades, Jimson Weed or Datura stramonium, seen throughout Ho`olehua. It is known by many names, including Stink Weed, Devil’s Apple, Thorn Apple, and Moonflower. This plant resembles the Apple of Peru, Nycandra physalodes, a common weed in Ho`olehua, and one in which animals eat without any negative effects. It has a similar flower and leaf shape, which could cause animals to eat Jimson Weed by mistake.

A member of the tomato family, or Solanaceae, the poisonous nightshades caused edible members of this family, especially tomatoes, to be viewed for generations with apprehension because people thought they were poisonous. Jimson weed or Jamestown Weed has a reputation that goes back centuries. Its scientific name, stramonium, means ‘mad nightshade’ due to its reputation for making people delirious or mad.

Its common name originated from Jamestown, Virginia where, in 1676, the British were sent to crush a rebellion, called the Bacon’s Rebellion. The British made a boiled salad from the Jimson Weed leaves, and were delirious for 11 days. When they came to their senses, they couldn’t remember a thing. Many people have died from consuming parts of this plant, because it contains at least three potent alkaloids known to cause confusion, delirium, hyperthermia, and dilated pupils. The antidote for this poisonous plant is physostigmine.

In the dog-days of summer, when food is in short supply due to drought, animals will be pressured to eat things they don’t normally consume. This is when they will experiment with poisonous plants. This is common with goats, which won’t eat Lantana until they have little choice. This plant causes hindered vision, making it even harder to find quality forage.

Some native Americans consider nightshade a sacred plant, including the Algonquin and Luiseno. Other common members of this family include popolo, or Solanum nodiflorum, used in Hawaiian medicine and also kikania, or Solanum aculeatissimum, whose orange balls are used in the making of lei. It is considered the unofficial lei of Kalaupapa since it grows there in abundance. Other edible members of the Solanaceae family include eggplant, bellpeppers, tree tomato, Irish potatoes, poha berries, and chili peppers.

Ono Ulu

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Don't have a Molokai Dispatch ID?

Sign up is easy. Sign up now

Lost Password