Farmers market sprouts at Ala Moana

As we approach a month of focusing on local food with the Eat Local Challenge (see D5), the farmers market scene is revving up.

At Ala Moana Center, a new farmers market debuts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday with 60 vendors featuring such items as locally caught fish, grass-fed beef, dairy products, Kona coffee, organic breads, honey, macadamia nuts, flowers, fruits and vegetables — all Hawaii produced.

Daniel Anthony of Mana Ai will pound taro by hand, and prepared-food vendors will offer up an array of dishes to enjoy in a tented seating area for 70. The day will include entertainment, and visitors who sign up for the Eat Local Challenge will receive a free bag.

The market runs weekly on the upper deck near Sears at Ala Moana Boulevard and Piikoi Street.

Call 388-9696 or visit the Ala Moana Farmers Market Facebook page.

The market comes courtesy of Living Breath LLC, which runs markets in Haleiwa and Hawaii Kai, and Oahu Agri-Tours.

MEANWHILE, at the Saturday Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market, culinary stars will hold demos and visit with customers for Savor September. The events begin at 9 a.m.; the market runs 7:30 to 11 a.m. Call 848-2074.

The lineup:

» Saturday: Chef Ed Kenney of Town teams up with Michelle Galimba of Kuahiwi Ranch to prepare her Big Island beef.

» Sept. 10: Chef Alan Wong cooks with honey from his Adopt-A-Beehive Project, a partnership with University of Hawaii at Hilo. Lorna Tsutsumi of the school will demonstrate honey extraction.

» Sept. 17: U.S. barista champ Pete Licata of Honolulu Coffee Co. will brew up farmer Lorie Obra’s award-winning coffee from Ka‘u.

» Sept. 24: Chef Eberhard Kintscher, aka Chef Hardy, from the Colony Surf, will whip up Shrimp in Citrus Coconut Saffron with Kona Kea seafood from Hawaii island, locally grown sweet potatoes, roasted macadamia nuts and Sweet Gold pineapple.

FINALLY, ON Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., Windward Mall will host a farmers market with cooking demonstrations and family events in the Macy’s wing.

The day is a preview for an expanded market on Wednesdays, run by ‘Nalo Farms, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The market features fresh produce, honey, breads, flowers and seafood such as smoked fish and slipper lobster.

“We’re passionate … about ensuring that people have the chance to eat local products that are also sustainable,” says ‘Nalo Farms’ Dean Okimoto.