Fresh Food All Year in Hawaii

October 15th, 2009

A box full of star fruit was near the office mailboxes today – fruit fresh from the tree free for the taking.  I had never seen or tasted star fruit until I moved to Hawaii but now I love its citrusy taste.  A week ago, my office-mate brought guava to share.  Not only had I never before experienced guava, but I also had to look up on the Internet how to eat it!  (I should have just asked him, but it seemed a little too basic.)  He also brings tangerines at times; another co-worker makes the rounds distributing guacamole and limes.  Last Friday in the student lounge, people were rejecting free mangoes because they were a little too ripe.

I haven’t been in Hawaii long enough to turn down any fresh produce – I took one and we had mango mash on top of pork chops for dinner.  It is still a huge treat to get fruit fresh from the tree at all – much less in October!   The fruits and veggies do have seasons, but something is available year-round.

We are fortunate to have two Farmers Markets in Kailua, one in the morning and one in the evening.  There are also locations all over the islands; the markets rotate days so the farmers can get to all or most of them.  I see several Farmers Market locations in Honolulu as I travel through by bus.  We have one at the university every Friday.  If Rick doesn’t find a particular item at the Thursday market in Kailua, I look for it the next day on campus.  No matter where you visit in Hawaii, there will be a Farmer’s Market nearby.

We first went to a Farmer’s Market during our second visit to Hawaii while still living on the mainland.  We were staying in a room with a kitchen, so preparing our own meals from locally grown food was an adventure.  Many hotels have kitchenettes but even if you don’t have the ability to cook, you can still enjoy fresh snacks.  Honestly, we just wandered around the first couple of visits, amazed at the new sights.  The sellers will explain what unfamiliar foods are, usually offering a sample, if you ask.  It also lets you meet and visit with the people who grow your food — local flavor of two types.  Don’t miss the opportunity to experience new tastes when you visit Hawaii!
 

Posted by Cindy Scheopner  Follow me on Twitter @Scheopner

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Entry Filed under: Customs, Practices and Pastimes, In General, Uncategorized