Category: Pineapple

September 2, 2009 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Council ponders use of ‘polluted’ wells for backup – The Maui News

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WAILUKU – Three years after it banned using water from the Hamakuapoko Wells for human consumption, the Maui County Council is considering tapping the wells for emergencies.

The wells are contaminated with pesticides, but county water and state health officials have said treatment removes the chemicals to undetectable levels and makes the water safe to drink. Water Director Jeff Eng said Tuesday that if the council allowed the wells to be used as a backup during times of drought or other emergencies, it would allow the county to issue several hundred water meters from the Pookela Wells to residents who have been waiting for water Upcountry.

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August 28, 2009 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Maui Land and Pineapple Looks Interesting Despite Its Share of Issues — Seeking Alpha

If there’s anything we like to cover besides net/nets here at Cheap Stocks, it’s real estate, more specifically, companies that own relatively large amounts of raw land, commercial property, or a combination of the two. My portfolio is chock full of these companies, from retailers such as Cabela’s, to restaurants (Cracker Barrell, Denny’s) to shipping companies (Alexander and Baldwin) to agriculture (JG Boswell and Limoneira), to name just a few.

Over the years, I’ve also sold out of some names as well. Maui Land and Pineapple (MLP) is a great example. I continue to follow the company, however, looking for a re-entry point, or making a determination of whether I want to take a new position.
MLP, which owns 24,500 acres primarily in Maui, Hawaii, including 10.6 miles of ocean frontage with 3300 of lineal feet along sandy beaches, has fallen on hard times during the recession. The company recently reported a $54 million loss for the second quarter, which included more than $37 million in writedowns, $21.3 million of which represented a decrease in value of the Company’s investment in the Kapalua Bay resort. Clearly, the downturns in real estate prices and resort visitors has been a double whammy for MLP. The stock now trades at $6.22, down 79% from its 52 week high of $29.69.

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August 24, 2009 General Ag News and Notes, Labor Post a Comment

Hawaii’s ag work force drops slightly – Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

Hawaii’s agricultural work force totaled 6,100 in July, according to a new report.

The work force reported for the week of July 12-18 was unchanged compared with the survey week in April, but down 2 percent from last July, the National Agricultural Statistics Service Hawaii Field Office said Monday.

Pineapple and sugar cane workers totaled 900, down 22 percent from the same period a year ago, the result of layoffs at Maui Land & Pineapple and Gay & Robinson on Kauai.

Maui Land & Pineapple laid off 204 workers in July 2008, and Gay & Robinson ended its sugar cane operations in September 2008.

Hawaii’s total farm work force — which includes self-employed farm operators and unpaid workers such as family members and others working 15 hours or more per week — totaled 10,400 workers for the survey week, down 1 percent from a year ago.

The average wage paid to all hired workers during the survey week was estimated at $13.97 per hour, 5 percent higher than a year ago.

Hawaii farms employing one to nine workers paid an average of $12.50 per hour. The combined average wage for field and livestock workers was $11.40 an hour.

Hawaii’s ag work force drops slightly – Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

August 24, 2009 General Ag News and Notes 1 Comment

World Tea News – Indulge Hawaii Releases RTD Tea With Stevia

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Monday, 24 August 2009

by WTN staff 

Honolulu-based Indulge Hawaii has unveiled a new RTD iced tea that is sweetened with stevia, a first according to the company.

Called Plantation Iced Tea No Sugar Added, the drink is described as "a blend of brewed tea, pineapple juice and tropical flavors," in a news release. Indulge Hawaii President Byron Goo said the tea used is an Indian black tea. He did not elaborate on the brewing process.

Touted as a low-calorie beverage with just 10 calories per serving, Plantation Iced Tea is sweetened with Good & Sweet Reb-A, which maker Blue California describes as a "natural sweetener purified from stevia leaves."

"It’s thrilling to say we’re an innovation company," Goo said. "Now, we’re first to make a bottled iced tea using a brand new all natural, zero calorie sweetener derived from stevia.” Goo told WTN that Blue California had confirmed the claim.

Indulge Hawaii is a food and beverage brand that focuses on Hawaiian ingredients. The company’s stated goal is to use natural and organic ingredients whenever possible, support sustainable agricultural practices and make its community a better place to live.

World Tea News – Indulge Hawaii Releases RTD Tea With Stevia

August 23, 2009 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Agriculture dominated local scene – The Maui News

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Statehood & Business: Hawaii Statehood 50 Years
By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer

POSTED: August 23, 2009

In 1959, plantation agriculture was big business in Hawaii. The plantations were branching out into tourism, but sugar and pineapple – and coffee in Kona – dominated.

In August, with the days of the territory numbered, a typical issue of The Maui News advertised a total of half a dozen help wanted ads. The plantations didn’t advertise for help; they had their own labor recruitment system.

It dwarfed the nonplantation labor system. In August 1959, pineapple plantations hired 1,100 Maui youngsters on school vacations, most of them to work in noisy, hot canneries.

The jobs were much sought after. Damien Farias, owner of Maui Toyota, recalls waiting for three days on a labor bench for a chance to work at a cannery on Oahu when he was in school.

Statehood was expected to give a boost to agriculture. The summary of Hawaii agricultural history published by the state Department of Agriculture says that "with statehood, federal funds became available for the development and growth of Hawaii’s agricultural industries with funding for programs such as farm credit, natural resources and statistical services."

It did not, of course, work out that way.

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August 12, 2009 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

CALAVO fails marketing goals

Calavo Growers (CVGW) has been added to the Hawaii Agriculture Blog “Hawaii Agriculture and Related Stocks Annual Charts” page to show the contrast of their lack of success in marketing fresh pineapple in California with the success of their stock performance.

Calavo Chairman, President and CEO Lee E. Cole on the favorable implications of the sales marketing and distribution agreement of Maui Gold Pineapple for Calavo

“First, we anticipate that sales of Maui Gold fresh pineapples will contribute $25-30 million in revenues to Calavo’s top line in fiscal 2008, as well as become immediately accretive to earnings.”

calavao-vs-mlp
As opposed to Maui Land and Pineapple Company’s Inc (MLP) filed Quarterly Report (10-Q) for the period ended 2009-06-30.

Revenues for the Agriculture segment decreased by 14%, or $749,000, from $5.3 million for the second quarter of 2008 to $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to a reduction in pineapple juice sales volume and lower average prices for fresh pineapple. Pineapple juice sales represented approximately 5% of the Agriculture segment revenues in the second quarter of 2009 compared to approximately 13% of Agriculture segment revenues in the second quarter of 2008. The Agriculture segment reported an operating loss of $5.0 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to an operating loss of $4.6 million for the second quarter of 2008. The operating loss for the second quarter of 2009 includes a charge of $1.9 million representing an adjustment to the fair value less selling costs of our property in Kahului that includes our fresh fruit processing plant. The Kahului property is currently held for sale.

August 10, 2009 General Ag News and Notes, Maui Gold Pineapple Post a Comment

Maui Gold Pineapple – Honolulu Baking Company | Hawaii’s Premiere Food, Cuisine, Catering, and Recipe Website

CLICK HERE to view clip

The Honolulu Baking Company is the major force amongst the Star Bucks retail locations. Besides all the wonderful baked goods, they are also responsible for the delicious fresh fruit cups that we see in every location. Of course, one of the main fruits in the cup is the Maui Gold Pineapple. Executive Chef Grant Kawasaki meets Yuri McPhail for a behind the scenes tour of there facility in Kakaako.

Maui Gold Pineapple – Honolulu Baking Company | Hawaii’s Premiere Food, Cuisine, Catering, and Recipe Website