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Eden Marie Peart
Organizer, Hawaii Farmers Union / Owner-operator Kawaiholehole Farm, P.O.
Box 1863, Honokaa, HI 96727. HFU is the newest subdivision of the National Farmers
Union, America's oldest general farming organization. Eden is engaged in establishing
HFU and community food sovereignty initiatives. Utilizing her background in agricultural
production and teaching / school librarianship she is developing her 14 acre farm to
include food production, value-added ag products, habitat restoration and an enrichment
program for foster youth.
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Irene Plunkett-Mina
Co-owner, Kahanu Aina Sprouts, 1768 Kalawi Place, Wailuku, HI 96793. Irene
is a biological farmer who assists other farmers in promoting fresh island produce in the
marketplace. She also promotes and works to increase soil fertility in Hawaii through
education, outreach programs, seminars and conferences. Irene serves as an officer of Maui
Aloha Aina Association and is a member and special events coordinator for the Maui County
Farm Bureau.
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Kylie Matsuda
Managing Director, Kahuku Farms, PO Box 36, Kahuku, HI 96731. A 4th
generation farmer, Kylie hopes to continue her family’s farming legacy by diversifying
its offerings through Agtourism activities and value added products. As a graduate of
the Travel Industry Management School at the University of Hawaii, Kylie’s primary goal
is to create a sustainable model of agriculture through education and the business of
growing fresh local food.
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Laurie Goodwin
Hawaii Outreach Manager, Syngenta Seeds, 7050 Kaumualii Hwy, Kekaha, HI,
96752.
Laurie's job with Syngenta includes cultivating and supporting business,
community and government relations through outreach and education. She obtained a B.S.
majoring in Agronomy from the University of Guelph. She has been an accredited member of
the Certified Crop Advisor group for over eight years and is the current Chairperson of
the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association's Outreach committee.
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Luisa F. Castro
Assistant Water Quality Coordinator, CTAHR, Cooperative Extension
Service, 875 Komohana Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Luisa coordinates federally-funded
pollution risk assessment and public education projects. She produces and delivers water
quality and pollution assessment education materials through workshops, trainings,
public presentations and electronic media. She also coaches farmers on adopting good
agricultural practices to promote farm food safety.
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Marissa Harman
Land Asset Manager, Kamehameha Schools Land Assets Division, 78-6831
Ali’i Drive, Suite 234, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Marissa is involved in the planning and
management of Kamehameha Schools’ agricultural and conservation lands on Hawai’i Island.
KS agricultural leases cover a wide range of crops and a variety of growing conditions.
She has a B.A. in Liberal Studies – Hawaiian Preservation and a M.A. in Urban and
Regional Planning.
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Mark Lopes
Manager, Harvesting and Field Preparation Department, Hawaiian Commercial
& Sugar Co., P.O. Box 266, Puunene, HI 96784. HC&S’s principal businesses are the
growing and milling of sugarcane on 36,000 acres on Maui; production of raw sugar,
molasses, and specialty sugar; and the generation and sale of electricity. Mark has
worked for HC&S for 26 years. He lives in the upcountry area with his son and recently
obtained his business degree from the University of Phoenix.
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Mike Shimatsu
Roast Master, Kauai Coffee Co., P.O. Box 530, Kalaheo, HI 96741. Kauai
Coffee grows, processes and roasts coffee. The business focuses on the sale and
marketing of green (unroasted) coffee and the sale of roasted coffee. Mike manages the
production, operation and maintenance requirements of the roasting plant. He is a member
of the Kauai Farm Bureau and the Hawaii Coffee Association (for whom he has conducted
cupping and grading workshops).
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Thong-Teng Neo
Manager, Asia Pacific Flowers Inc, P.O. Box 1121, Hilo, HI 96778. Asia
Pacific Flowers, founded in 1977, is one of the oldest and largest commercial cut and
potted orchid nurseries in Hawaii. Neo is from Singapore and has traveled and worked in
different Asian countries before moving to Hawaii 6 years ago. Currently he is the
President of the Orchid Growers of Hawaii, a statewide orchid association.
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Randy Yokoyama
Operation Manager, Monsanto Company, Box 609, Hanapepe, HI 96716. Randy
has a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture from Rutgers University. He is married to Suzanne
and has a son named Braeden. He has worked for Monsanto for 14 years where he grows
mostly seed corn. Randy is currently the board Treasurer for the Kauai County Farm
Bureau and a former board Secretary of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.
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Ron Weidenbach
Co-Owner, Hawaii Fish Company, P.O. Box 1039, Waialua, HI 96791. Ron
manages a multi-species aquafarm on the North Shore of Oahu and is President of the
Hawaii Aquaculture Association (i.e. State aquaculture industry association). He has
B.S. and M.S. degrees in Natural Resource Management from the University of Michigan,
School of Natural Resources, and was formerly a Fishery Biologist with the University of
Miami, the University of Michigan and the East West Center.
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Sabrina White
Assistant Manager, Ponoholo Ranch, Ltd., P.O. Box 2647, Kamuela, HI
96743. Sabrina is a 3rd generation rancher on her family-owned, commercial cow/calf
operation with Angus and Charolais as the predominant breeds. Memberships include the
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association, and Hawaii
Cattlemen’s Council. She is a graduate of Colorado State University with a B.S. in
Animal Science, Industry Concentration.
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Class XII Brochure - click here for
a pdf version of the brochure |
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