This year, the April 28 event set attendance records, says Barbara Santos, one of the show's organizers. More than 7,000 people and 100 vendors and farmers made their way up the slopes of Mt. Haleakala to the picturesque fields of Ulupalakua Ranch and Tedeschi Winery, site of the event. Santos says she and other organizers had no idea when they first organized the show that it would attract such interest. We thought nobody outside the industry would find it interesting. We were wrong.
Preserved orchids float in aromatherapy oils by Reflections of Hawaii.
Despite its growing popularity with visitors, Santos says Ulupalakua's primary purpose is still to offer local farmers and businesses a way to showcase their products, network with others and connect up with potential buyers. By opening the show, more chefs and potential buyers from the mainland can justify the trip to see the larger variety of products, Santos said. Representatives from food magazines such as Bon Appetit and other media who attend Ulupalakua have helped to raise the show's profile even higher in recent years, she said. Information for the 2002 trade show will be posted later this month. For local farmers, Ulupalakua provides an opportunity to meet with chefs, find out about the latest culinary trends and perhaps secure some business.