TASTE Awards 2017 Categories & Finalists

Transcription

1 TASTE Awards 2017 Categories & Finalists 1. Lifetime Achievement Award 1) Kauai Coffee Company: The Kauai Coffee Estate is the largest coffee farm in the U.S. as well as a sponsor of the Kauai Agricultural Business Plan Competition, the state's largest on-farm composter, and host of the World Coffee Research International trials. The GM also serves on the Hawaii Coffee Association and Kauai Economic Development Boards. Kauai Coffee also helped get ~$500K for Coffee Berry Borer Research as a Hawaii on the Hill member. Kauai Coffee focuses on sustainable crop production and has reduced chemical weed control by 20%. 2) KTA Super Stores started in 1916 as a modest 500 square-foot grocery and dry goods store by Koichi & Taniyo Taniguchi. Since then, KTA has grown to a 6-store chain, serving the residents of Hawai`i island. KTA established The Mountain Apple Brand in 1984, a private label that promotes products grown or manufactured in Hawai`i. 3) Ernest Tottori, HPC Foods: Honolulu Poi Company was founded in 1946 by Kakuichi Tottori as a small poi milling operation with only three employees. In 1950, son James took over and was joined by his son Ernest in As the company prospered, sprouts and processed vegetables were added. The company name was changed in 1990 to HPC Foods and continues to provide quality products for Hawai`i and beyond with over 180 employees. 4) Keith Ohta, Hawaii Candy Keith s father, the late Richard Ohta, was a HFMA founding member and past president. Keith has followed in his father s footsteps and has held the title of HFMA president twice. He helped launch HFMA products into Times Supermarkets, Marukai in California, Uwajimaya in Washington and Oregon, and the local commissaries. He continues to assist other companies with distribution to help grow the food manufacturing industry in Hawaii. Four generations strong, Hawaii Candy continuously evolves their product line and distributes local products throughout Hawaii.

2 2. Manufacturer of the Year Large Company 1) Maui Gold Pineapple Company: Locally owned and operated, Maui Gold Pineapple Company was created by former Maui Pineapple Company employees who were committed to saving the 100 year tradition of pineapple on Maui. As skilled local farmers, they have been cultivating the Maui Gold variety for over 25 years. 2) Hawaiian Host: For over 80 years this company has grown in all facets of business. It has grown its line of products, distribution worldwide, and production capacity. Easily one of the largest brands from Hawaii, the company exemplifies what is possible in terms of competing on a global scale. Now if they would just need them to bring back the Hawaiian Moving Company! 3) Aloha Shoyu Company: In 1946, a small shoyu (soy sauce) manufacturing plant was established in Kalihi, Hawaii by five local Japanese families amidst post World War II. Aloha Shoyu Company, Ltd. has survived through competition to become one of Hawaii s market leaders in Soy Sauce. Tradition, local roots, and flavor make Aloha Shoyu products a favorite among Hawaiian islanders and visitors alike. 4) Island Princess: Thanks to a sweet inspiration and hard work by its owners, Dr. Michael Purdy and his wife, Gwendolyn Purdy, Island Princess has become one of Hawaii s top manufacturers of specialty macadamia nut products, luscious chocolates and unique gourmet confections. Island Princess is one of the few companies in Hawaii that grows, processes, manufactures and distributes macadamia nuts and confections. 5) Redondo s: Since its establishment in 1949, Rendondo s LLC has become the largest sausage company in the state of Hawaii. Our household favorites such as Hawaiian Winners, Portuguese Sausage, and Pipi kaula are continuously loved by the people of Hawaii. While competing companies move to the US mainland to save costs, Rendondo s LLC is dedicated to local production to preserve and deliver the tradition, quality and authentic Made in Hawaii sausage products to the people of Hawaii and those who visit.

3 3. Manufacturer of the Year Small Company 1) Hawaiian Nougat Company: Peter and Liz Anderson started Hawaiian Nougat Company in March A graduate of Ecole de Cuisine LaVarenne in Paris, Liz, alongside Peter, experimented making French nougat by using local Hawaiian ingredients and using the French style methods. The result was a soft, smooth textured nougat with a unique flavor. They incorporate natural cane sugar from Maui, white honey from Kiawe or Ohi`a Lehua flowers, fresh local egg whites, Hawaii macadamia nuts, and Big Island vanilla bean. 2) Made in Hawaii Foods uses home grown ingredient to manufacture jams, jellies and fruit spreads to spread it around the world. They manufacture over 40 different flavors of Hawaii that are sold in their factory outlet, alongside other products from 30 different small Hawaii food manufacturers. The list of local grown ingredients is endless as they produce limited editions of exotic fruit products to support Big Island farmers experimental crops. 3) Aunty Lilikoi Products is owned and operated by Elpidio Tony and Lori Cardenas. Aunty Lilikoi specializes in manufacturing and selling a lien of desserts and condiment items, such as jellies, mustards, butters, syrups, dressings and sauces made with passion fruit. Also offered is a line of personal care products made with passionflower essential oil. 4) Kōloa Rum Company on Kaua`i is a premium, single-batch craft distiller of Hawaiian Rum where all products are distilled, blended, and bottled. The Company uses raw crystal sugar, pristine mountain rainwater and a vintage 1210-gallon Copper Pot Still and Column to make its award-winning rum. 5) Diamond Bakery 95 years of service to the people of Hawaii. Over the past year Diamond Bakery has increased its product array, adding a new line of Made-In-Hawaii specially packaged Grab N Go crackers. In addition to Grab N Go line, Diamond Bakery relaunched their premium line of Hawaiian Shortbread Cookies just in time for the holidays. The company has more plans for 2017 including rolling out a new line of Hawaiian Macnut shortbread cookies, new flavors for the Grab N Go collection and more, making them the undisputed leader in Hawaii Manufacturing.

4 4. Start-up Manufacturer of the Year 1) Aloha Edibles: This company s journey from restaurant to beef jerky manufacturer to international exporter of crème brulee is testimony to the ingenuity involved in running a food manufacturing business. This mix was a collaboration with Chef Stanton Ho and is now being distributed in Japan! Their furikake potato chips are supposed to be found in Don Quijote and Foodland Farms but keeps selling out! Not bad for one of the new kids in town. 2) Herbologie Teas is made with the finest local ingredients and utilizes the power of probiotic fermentation, allowing their teas to renew your body and mind. Whether you re looking to relax, detoxify, rejuvenate your skin, increase flexibility, sharpen focus, or simply need an energy booster, there is a Herbologie tea for you. 3) Hawaiian Pie Company was born of 3 generations of bakers and family. The new shop located on the Ewa side of Waiakamilo Road honors the family that came before and serves as a reminder of where they came from. They have flakey buttery pies freshly baked daily: a 3-pound pie filled with butter and happiness is the legacy they share. 4) Maui Raw: Since 2014, Maui Raw has produced a variety of healthy spreads that are fun, inventive, and break a long standing belief that creamy and indulgent dips are a guilty pleasure. Maui Raw takes great pride in their cultured macadamia nut spreads which use locally sourced ingredients that are raw, vegan, and non-gmo. Macadamia nuts contain the same healthy probiotics found in many yogurts, but without any dairy, gluten or soy. Maui Raw works directly with local farmers to build a culture of thriving farms, families, and small businesses all working and joining together in celebration of life, health and community. 5) Maui Fruit Jewels was founded in October 2012 by husband and wife team Chris and Lin ter Horst. The couple began developing a fruit candy using only locally grown fruits, inspired by the French confection pates de fruits. They also incorporated local spices and wines into their candies. Their products are free of preservatives, food colors, and added food flavors. Maui Fruit Jewels Pate de Fruits Hana Collection won the prestigious silver sofi Award (Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation Award) in the Confection category. In 2015, Chris and Lin finally set up their own commercial kitchen in Wailuku, with a custom-built packaging machine that took them a year to design and source.

5 5. Product of the Year 1) Manulele Distillers Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum: Hawaii's first true farm-to-bottle rum made entirely from native Hawaiian sugarcane grown on their own farms. Hand harvested and hand crafted from start to finish with special attention to fine packaging and elegant design. This product truly showcases what high value agricultural products in Hawaii can be. 2) Choco Le a took another Hawaii food staple and made it even better by combining the popular Nisshido mochi with its own rich dark chocolate ganache. The result is a mochi truffle that is a great gift for special occasions or comforting treat for trying times. 3) Me Ke Aloha Syrups is a line of powdered instant syrups. No preservatives, just add water. Our self-explanatory slogan is "fresh taste at last!". 4) Honolulu Cookie Company continues to expand in Hawaii and abroad with innovative keepsakes like our Pineapple Wrap and Aloha Collection Boxes. Each is trademarked and features our brand s signature pineapple design, a true symbol of hospitality. 5) Maui Fruit Jewels Exotic Fruit Jelly: The candies are produced using locally-grown fruits, organic sugar, glucose, pectin, water, and citric acid, and are free of any preservative, coloring, and flavoring. Some flavors use Maui wines instead of fruits, while other flavors incorporate herbs and spices, including noni, turmeric, ginger, and Hawaiian chili pepper.

6 6. Advocate of the Year 1) KTA Super Stores started in 1916 as a modest 500 square-foot grocery and dry goods store by Koichi & Taniyo Taniguchi. Since then, KTA has grown to a 6-store chain, serving the residents of Hawai`i island. KTA established The Mountain Apple Brand in 1984, a private label that promotes products grown or manufactured in Hawai`i. 2) Steven Chiang, Agribusiness Incubator Program: The Agribusiness Incubator Program seeks to provide business consulting services to agriculture-related businesses throughout the State of Hawaii, maximizing their chance of business viability and success, in order to grow the State s diversified agriculture industry. 3) UH Maui - The Maui Food Innovation Center, Chris Speere: MFIC provides business and tech expertise to food and agriculture entrepreneurs thought the State of Hawaii. MFIC helps farmers and food manufactures increase profitability through the development of new value-added food products, reduces dependence on imports and contributes to the sustainability of island based agriculture. 4) Kyle Datta, Ulupono Initiative: Ulupono Initiative was formed as an impact investment firm to positively affect Hawaii s ability to grow its own food, harness its rich natural resources for renewable energy, and better manage its waste. As a member of the Local Food Coalition, Ulupono Initiative has invested in LFC's various local food advocacy projects and events. Ulupono believes LFC s mission to support statewide food- and agriculture-related policy issues is aligned with our own objectives for more local food production in Hawaii. As general partner, Kyle is responsible for developing Ulupono Initiative s partnerships with stakeholders, policy makers and community organizations. He also oversees the organization s systems-thinking approach to strategy development and transformation. 5) Pacific Allied Products is Hawaii s leading plastics manufacturing company. Founded in 1965, the company initially produced wall panels using Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam and expanded to ice coolers, surfboards, and swim rings evolved over the years. In 1992, PAP purchased equipment to manufacture a full line of PET bottles for the beverage industry. In 2005, a new 30,000 square-feet PET manufacturing plant was added, enabling production of more than 200 million bottles per year.

7 7. Supplier of the Year 1) Pacific Rim Packaging has been building alliances with customer since Diane and Damon Bell work to supply HFMA members with quality packaging staples like plastic bags and corrugated boxes for products. They are always pleasant and readily available for consultation to help everyone with their unique situations. In addition to being a supplier, Diane has been an HFMA education committee member helping to set up and even sponsor association events. 2) Maui Nui Venison/Makaweli Ranch: Makaweli Meat Company is the direct link from the ranch to the table. They are dedicated to providing premium, 100% natural, wild harvest and free-ranged meats. They strongly believe in the growing farm-to-table concept of thinking globally and sourcing locally and are proud to follow the Robinson family s legacy of land preservation, environmental consciousness, selfsustaining agriculture, and the humane treatment of livestock. 3) Rimfire Imports began operations on Maui in November 1984 as a specialty food distributor and wholesaler. The goals of the company are to fill an expanding need for gourmet specialty foods statewide. First establishing a growing market on Maui, in 1986, local sales representatives were employed on Kauai and Hawaii to insure service and delivery to the Outer Island customers.

8 8. Hawaiian Agriculture Award 1) Hawaii s Special on Oahu s north shore manufactures several flavors of the Aloha State s favorite: papaya seed dressing. Only the freshest seeds from Hawaiian grown papaya are used in the dressings. These seeds contribute a peppery taste that complement the all-natural spices and flavors used to make their mouth-watering varieties. 2) Big Island Bees started in 1971 by keeping bees in Hawaii. While maintaining their artisanal standards, the apiaries have grown from just a few hives in the early 70s o 3,800 hives and 190,000,000 bees today. Their mission is to provide the finest single-floral, artisanal honey anywhere! 3) Kauai Coffee Company: All 100% Kauai Coffee sold! Sponsor of Kauai Agricultural Business Plan Competition, state's largest on-farm composter, and host of World Coffee Research International trials. The GM also serves on the Hawaii Coffee Association and Kauai Economic Development Boards. Also helped get ~$500K for Coffee Berry Borer Research as a Hawaii on the Hill member. Kauai Coffee focuses on sustainable crop production and has reduced chemical weed control by 20%. 4) Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm occupies 75 idyllic acres in the South Point area of the Big Island of Hawaii. Paradise Meadows is home to 35 bee hives, grows 3 types of 100% Hawaiian Arabica beans, macadamia nuts and is home to approximately 1400 lime trees, 100 lemon trees, and 300 avocado trees, and also has an Aquaponic greenhouses. (the fusion of two methods of farming - Aquaculture (fish farming) and Hydroponics (growing in water instead of soil) They supply to restaurants, farms stands, various retail stores and recently opened Hawaii s The Local Buzz on Oahu which carries their award winning Kau coffee. 5) Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company on Big Island is one of the largest suppliers of Macadamia Nuts in the state. They offer competitive shipping rates to other businesses to help distribute their product. Very supportive, efficient and wonderful BtoB company.