Lahaina Farms Now Open

If you live on the West side of Maui, finding locally-grown produce often required a trip to Central Maui's Down to Earth or the North Shore's Mana Foods--both long and expensive trips, especially when gas has now surpassed the $4.50 mark (eep!) But finally, West side residents can buy local close to home. Lahaina Farms opened up this week in the new Lahaina Gateway Plaza, right across the street from the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Owned by the Sullivan Family, who also run Foodland, Sack 'N Save, and Food Pantry, Lahaina Farms seems worlds apart from its corporate counterparts. Warm lighting, clean aisles, colorful, upscale decor, and a well-edited selection of goods that go beyond the usual groceries. Think a cross between Trader Joe's unique offerings and Whole Foods' natural and organic appeal. Since I've been missing my TJ's and Fresh & Easy, I had to check this out. The verdict? It's quite promising.

One thing about Lahaina Farms is that it is not huge--just a mere 14,000 square feet. But it feels very, um, cute. When you walk in, the first thing you see is the produce section, and beyond it, a large deli serving hot foods, customized salads, coffee, and gelato. I headed straight for the fruits and vegetables, hoping to find something local for a tasty dinner. There was a good selection of organic produce, but they were from all over the world. As for local produce, I did find mushrooms and tomatoes from Hamakua Farms, Ewa sweet melons from Aloun Farms, but where were the Maui items? I did find asparagus from Anuhea Farms in Makawao, and of course, Maui Gold Pineapple from nearby Kapalua (and on sale for 99 cents a pound). But I didn't really see anything else from Maui. Perhaps I just missed them--the signs and labels were rather tiny, and the produce dudes were giving me funny looks from all my hovering. Granted, the store just opened, and it may take some time to get more Maui farms on board. Let's hope so.

I did like the diversity of what was there--the purple wax beans, and baby zucchini and squashes caught my eye. I also loved the aisle of already-cut fruit packaged to go--you can get your mango, grapefruit, orange, and melon fixes without wielding a knife. Back to the produce, I ended up not going locavore and got two unusual melons: pepino melon and kiwano melon. Well, maybe they were local, but their origin wasn't noted. I also got some organic golden beets to make a salad.

The deli looked fantastic. I was glad I already had eaten, or I would've dropped a bunch of moolah on their ready-made fresh meals (and their gelato, which I believe is from Ono Gelato in Pa'ia, looked so dang good). Their salad station was also stunning--basically pick your own ingredients and they will toss it for you with your preferred dressing. Yes, something that the mainland has had for awhile, and about time we got fresh salad digs like this too.

R. Field was all over the wine, cheese, and spice section--Honolulu folks clue me in?

I walked down the aisles and felt like I was back at Trader Joe's. I found all my usual favorites like Kashi brand and Barbara's Puffins cereals. Their spice selection was nice, though pricey (and they also offered peppercorns and exotic dried mushrooms by the pound). Their meats were nicely packaged and priced competitively. Now the seafood counter was quite an eyeful--freshly made poke (made from fresh, not frozen fish!), freshly caught fish offered as steaks or filets, and even better, they offer samples. And finding my favorite Fage Greek yogurt (with honey) definitely made my day.

Poke of all sorts and varieties, and yours for the sampling

They had a large selection of Seventh Generation products so you can easily turn your household green, and I loved the beauty products (then again, I'm a sucker for Alba, Avalon Organics, Kiss My Face, and such)--they even offer these favorites in travel sizes.

At the other end of the store are the dairy products--right now a good bargain on milk (2 half-gallons for $7--I forgot to note the brand, but it wasn't local), a cheese section (lots of goat cheese but none from Maui's Surfing Goat Dairy), and three aisles of wine and booze, with the local stuff in its own little area. They even have a selection of wines from Kaena, a winery in Santa Barbara wine country that is run by a Honolulu-born Mikael Sigouin. Big Island's Volcano Winery and Maui's Tedeschi Winery also represent. Not wanting to go over my budget, I ended up just getting a bottle of artesian water from Waiwera Infinity (New Zealand). I just liked the pretty bottle, yo.

My bounty for the day (hey, I had a budget!)

While the shop is affiliated with the Foodland stores, you can't use your Maika'i card here. The cashier told me they'll be starting their own discount club card in a few months. Something to look forward to if you plan to shop here a lot. If I lived on this side of the island, I'd definitely be spending my dollars here rather than at the other West side options--Safeway, Foodland, or Star Market. And there even may be a tiny chance that I'll be relocating to this side, but that's another story, for another day.

Lahaina Farms, Lahaina Gateway Center, 325 Keawe St., Lahaina, Maui. T: 808.662.7088

Comments

[Tim Aloi]

Excellent review and will be over this store when I return. I am glad to see the extensive prepared food section. Leaves more time for living.

[Nate]

The deli stuff sure looks ono!

[Penny]

Open yeah, but not going to make it, to pricey for folk here, (only the tourists have money) and they eat out. I tried to sell them some of my huge, perfect Hayden Mangos but they turned me down. So much for "Lahaina Farms", (was originaly going to be called Ohana Farms but still, it's just a hook, NOT local stuff at all. Don't waste your time.

[deb]

Looks like fun!! We'll have to check it out next visit home.

Love your blog!! I'm a Maui girl living outside DC now . . . . and missing home everyday. Glad to have fellow local bloggers like to catch up with the island scene.

MAHALOs.

[JOE]

MAN THAT DELI SURE LOOKED AWESOME, THE BEST IVE SEEN ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI OR EVEN THE STATE....WOW LOOKS PRESENTATION.THE ONLY DRAWBACK WAS THE GROCERYS LACK OF LOCAL STUFF....

[Jack]

Actually the store does carry a lot of locally grown produce. I asked the store manager and he stated that local growers have to go through their buyers at the corporate office. The store doesn't have any leeway to purchase produce on its own. This is to ensure quality control and steady supply.

[susan nealy]

Love the Boars Head meats. USA Company and
quality. If only they knew the New York Deli style sandwich ....the offerings would be a home run.

Kaanapali resident (from NYC)