Photo of Chef Alan Okuda, director of the Hawaii Community College (Hilo) food service program and Richard Ha, of the Hamakua Springs Country Farms holding a colorful selection of tomatoes grown by the Hamakua Springs Farms.
I have written about my friend Richard Ha and his wonderful tomatoes in the past and given you a couple of recipes I came up with using his tomatoes. Here is the latest tomato happening and one in which I am pleased to be involved!
HAMAKUA COAST, BIG ISLAND—Fried Green Tomatoes! Melt-in-Your-Mouth Marinara! Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Salsa! What’s your favorite tomato recipe?
The Hamakua Springs “You Say Tomato” Recipe Contest is in search of the best tomato recipe in three categories: entrée, salad and preserves/condiments. Enter to win up to $350 in Makana Card gift certificates redeemable at statewide Foodland and Sack and Save supermarkets. Three prizes will be awarded in each category to total $2,700 in Makana gift certificates. The top three winners of each category earn a personal tour of Hamakua Springs Country Farms in Pepeekeo; neighbor-island winners will receive complimentary airfare to the Big Island and ground transportation from Hilo Airport.
Deadline for entry—submit as many recipes as you wish—is January 31, 2007 and complete instructions and rules are posted at www.hamakuasprings.com. The contest is open to Hawaii residents and ingredients must be readily available.
"I think the contest is a fun way to not only promote our company and the products we produce, but to also bring attention to the Hilo Community College Culinary Program," says Richard Ha, president of Hamakua Springs Country Farms. “They do a terrific job educating our young people to become the next generation of chefs. I'm hopeful that when people visit our website to enter the tomato contest, they will also go to our blog, 'Ha Ha Ha,' and learn more about this excellent culinary program.”
All submitted recipes will be prepared by Hilo Community College culinary students for sampling by a panel of judges: Marlene Hapai, UH Board of Regents East Hawaii; Rockne Freitas, Hawaii Community College chancellor; Joan Namkoong, food columnist and author; Audrey Wilson, Hawaii Tribune-Herald food writer; Randy Nunokawa, Hawaii Community College director of continuing education and Sonia Martinez, food writer and author. Winners will be announced March 14 at Hamakua Springs’ blog site, Ha Ha Ha! and personally contacted via telephone.
Entries can be submitted two ways: via email at contest@hamakuasprings.com or mailed to Hamakua Springs Recipe Contest, 421 Lama St., Hilo, HI 96720. Each entry must include your full name, address, daytime phone number and email address (if any). Indicate which category you are entering, the name of the recipe, ingredients used with exact U.S. measurements, how the recipe is prepared and the number of servings it makes. Submitted recipes must be original and previously unpublished.
Hamakua Springs Country Farms has been in the banana business for 30 years and has expanded to research, develop, grow and sell—not only bananas—but also several varieties of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and watercress. Led by Richard Ha, the family company practices sustainability at every level—from environmentally friendly hydroponic farming to going that extra step to receive coveted Food Safety Certification. Although the certification isn’t required, it ensures that employees have healthy working conditions and customers get not only excellent taste and consistency, but also the safest produce possible. For information, phone (808) 981-0805.
