The demonstration will give fairgoers an idea of how the roasting process is done. Suzuki also will be working in a booth making slushes and soft-serve ice cream using locally grown products such as bananas, pineapples and papayas. Both Suzuki's booth and the coffee roasting booth are part of the fair's effort to promote awareness of agriculture in the islands. The general purpose is to educate the people. The coffee exhibit is one example of how some of the fair's educational displays have become more interactive, she said.
Folks can see what the beans look like before roasting, and they can watch the process.
The fair also serves as a reminder that agriculture still plays a role in Hawaii. Out of sight, out of mind. Adventures in Beekeeping, a display he's involved with, will show how beehives operate. People think honey comes from bear-shaped jars, and they tend to forget about the production involved in obtaining honey, he said. I think it's because we're getting more and more separated from our rural and agricultural roots.