It was a very successful event – this Maui Ag Fest 2011. It was held last Saturday, April 2 at the Maui Tropical Planation in Waikapu. The event was from 9Am to 4PM. Because it was a Saturday, I did some chores in the house first before I went to the event. I arrived there around 11AM in time for the #MauiTweetup that @DaniaEdibleHI of the Edible Hawaiian Islands Magazine organized.
Holly molly! – the parking lot was so full by the time i got there. There were hundreds of cars parked on the lawn already and there were a lot more coming! The place was packed! I was there to help cover the event on twitter, so I was sort of a volunteer.
Speaking of volunteers, I think one of the many factors which made this event successful were the dedication and hardwork of these volunteers. @SlowFoodMaui did a great job liveblogging the event, so make sure you check out their blog. Roxanne of Kula Fields , @Peterliu47 and @JulieYakaCoco all did a wonderful job blogging. Private Chef @JanaMcMahon worked hard in the registration area:
Moving forward, one of the main events on this grand event is Grand Taste Education. There were about 14 chefs who used their talents in preparing dishes from the local produce. There were varied creations, all delightful to the palates. On top of the delight in taste, our ears were delighted as well with the smooth sweet music of Joel Katz played at the eating area.
There were so many things to do and see at the festival. Maui Thing hosted the Keiki Zone where they did a lot of kids activities including arts and crafts. There were Wellness Presentations where Chef Teton and Down To Earth shared their knowledge and guidance on healthy eating. The Bake For Japan raised $3,000 for Japan.
At the center stage, live music were going on as well as hula, and then there was the huge tent for the Farmers Market. The produce and products at the farmers market were all so fresh, and inexpensive too! The famous AKL Lavender Farm was represented and their products were available there too. And not to forget is the huge tent designated for Education and Information. There I saw our friend Marilyn promoting their new business called “Maui Country Farm Tours“.
If you missed going Maui County Ag Festival this year, I’d say plan on going next year. Every year it gets better! Below is the video of the photos I took from there. Enjoy!
