10 Jun Chef Mark’s Quick Bites: Organic Farming on Maui
While visiting Maui on the “So Much More Hawaii” tour, I was given a tour of Kapalua Farms by Gustavo Diaz, Operations Manager. He showed me many aspects of this diversified operation which is dedicated to sustainable growing of vegetables and pineapple. Although the farm is directly adjacent to the Kapalua Resort’s golf course, Gustavo explains how they maintain the integrity of the organic growing space:
Gustavo explained how the farm is overhauling their composting operation to be able to take on green waste from other areas of West Maui and turn it into organic fertilizer to feed their operation.
We ended our tour in the upper pineapple fields, where Kapalua Farms grows the famous “Maui Gold” organic pineapples. Gustavo explains the process, and how it’s a little more involved and labor intensive than so-called “conventionally” grown pineapple.