At a recent planning commission meeting, I testified in favor of Councilman Stacy Higa’s initiative to ban superstores on the Big Island. Let me tell you why.
On any given day, 70 percent of Hawai‘i’s food is imported. And it is estimated that we have only seven to 10 days of food in the pipeline. We live on islands in the middle of the Pacific and it’s clear to me that we need to produce MORE foods locally, not less.
I have no objection to importing 100 percent of our computers, TV sets, stoves and cars. We cannot make these items here in Hawai‘i. And even if shipping was interrupted, we could adapt or make do without them.
But it is quite a different story with food. If shipping is interrupted for any length of time, and our food supply is cut off and people become desperate, we could have a very volatile and dangerous situation.
We depend on food for our very lives. Therefore, we must try to become as self-sufficient in food production as we can. We must grow as much of the food that we can here in Hawaii.
Superstores are not committed to supporting local agriculture production.They are geared to providing cheap food. Small farmers cannot meet the high-tech, steady supply requirements necessary to supply superstores with cheap food.
If the cost of that “cheap food” is that small, local farmers are forced out of business and Hawai‘i has to import even more than 70 percent of the food it consumes, that cost is way too high!
In contrast, some of our local supermarkets have consistently supported local farmers for many, many years. KTA Supermarkets has its Mountain Apple brand, which identifies items grown or produced locally. We farmers all know how committed KTA is to its local farmer program. It is what the company does, not just what it says, that resonates.
Foodland Supermarkets is also committed to supporting local farmers. Foodland has recently kicked off its Island Market program to showcase locally grown products.
When supercenters establish themselves in Hawai‘i, though, these local supermarkets cannot grow. And if they cannot grow, local small farmers cannot grow. Ultimately, the result is that we grow even less of the food we eat here, and are forced to depend even more on imports.
Clearly, this cannot go on indefinitely. For me, the time to stand up was at that recent planning commission meeting.
I’m in full agreement with your position. locally grown produce must be advocated, supported and purchased. Quality is better, there is less oil impact due to reduced transit from grower to user and it will help promote independence from imported food.
I’m in process of moving to HPP and plan to have a garden (possibly hydroponic) to support my own needs as fully as possible, with some excess for sale or barter.
AMEN Richard! We need in this country, not only this State (although you point out the uniqueness of Hawaii food-wise) to realize that by paying cheap food we’re only damaging our own economy. Besides, as you mentioned on a previous post, it is much more important to buy locally than to buy organic. And if one wants quality, flavor, and food safety in their food, then one should be willing to pay for it.
Cheers
RR
Aloha Rodrigo:
I agree with everything you said. Thanks for your comments. We need to move in that direction. Richard
Richard, for some reason I am not able to receive notices when you post in this blog. I have missed a lot and am making an effort to catch up….
I agree with you 100% on this issue!