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Aloha from Corteva Agriscience!

NEWS FROM OUR FARMS

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Get a pumpkin from Corteva Hawai‘i
at the 9th Annual Harvest Festival

The 9th Annual Harvest Festival kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Park. The fun-filled family event was started by a group of local farmers that wanted to establish an event that created color and joy for adults and keiki in the community. The pumpkins bring smiles to everyone who receives them. Join the fun at Harvest Fest with free pumpkins, free admission, free entertainment, free rides, food booths, an educational tent, and surprises for keiki!



Visit our team at the Corteva tent for a free pumpkin and take a photo at the selfie station for a chance to win a special prize on social media!

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Corteva Hawai‘i Supports Local Vanilla
Farmer with Research Assistance

Corteva Hawai‘i partnered with Lydgate Farms – a small, diversified farm on the island of Kaua’i – to provide research assistance for the first approach of commercial vanilla production in Hawai‘i. Vanilla is a profitable crop with high demand, but currently, Hawai‘i produces very little because its growing methods are not commonly known and have little scientific research.



To combat this issue, Mark Stoutemyer, Hawai‘i Research Center Lead for Corteva Agriscience, and Abebe Hassen, Corteva Agriscience Biostatistics Research Scientist, created an experimental design of a vanilla production system that tests different growing methods, fertilization and post-harvest treatments. Over the next few years, data will be collected on vanilla plants, flowers and bean pods and statistically analyzed. Stoutemyer and Hassen also worked with Pierriden Perez, Corteva Agriscience Hawai‘i Laboratory Lead, to establish best practices for producing vanilla in Hawai‘i.



“The project with Lydgate Farms will help expand and support agriculture in Hawai‘i,” said Stoutemyer. “Our research will be a resource to other small farmers in our community who are interested in adding vanilla to their farming operations. Corteva is committed to supporting farmers through collaboration and technical innovation. On Kaua‘i, it is part of our culture to assist farmers and other leaders as a good neighbor and to contribute to our community."



At the conclusion of this project, the goal is to provide farmers in Hawai‘i with a set of best practices for vanilla production that is backed by modern scientific research. Through supporting small farmers, Corteva’s Hawai‘i Research Center is achieving our sustainability goals while strengthening local communities and agriculture across the state.

AG IN ACTION

Youth from 4H and FFA groups tour Corteva Hawai‘i sites

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Corteva Hawai‘i recently had the pleasure of hosting two youth groups on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu. Unity Christian FFA from Iowa brought 18 people to Kaua‘i to tour the Hawai‘i Research Center. The Texas Youth Livestock & Agriculture (TYLA) Ambassadors had 35 people on a tour of both our Parent Seed and Research locations.

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Both groups visited other farms on Kaua‘i, including Kaua‘i Coffee and Kaua‘i Chocolate. At the Hawai‘i Research Center, the students were very interested in the genotyping lab, shelling and seed processing operations and double haploid production shade houses.



As part of a multi-island excursion, the TYLA group of 35 high school students was often accompanied by Warren Mayberry, government affairs director. During lunch at the Hawai‘i Research Center, previous Kauai Mayor and current County Council Member Bernard Carvalho, Jr. discussed leadership and the importance of the next generation in agriculture with the group.



The TYLA group also visited our Parent Seed facility on O‘ahu to gain an understanding of that site and toured the Go Farm Hawai‘i area to learn about some of Corteva’s community outreach initiatives.



Corteva staff truly enjoyed the students’ visits and are excited to see this next generation of problem solvers and leaders in agriculture tackle our most important issues.

Corteva participates in UH basketball and baseball team clinic

As part of the Kekaha Agricultural Association, Corteva Hawai‘i took part in youth baseball and basketball clinics on Kaua“i. On August 6, UH men's basketball players came to Kaua‘i to host a Rainbow Warrior Skills Camp for 130 boys and girls from kindergarten through 8th grade at the Kauai High School gym. The team, including a player with Kauai roots, also held a meet-and-greet with head coach Eran Ganot. During his time on Kauai, Coach Ganot announced that a 2023-24 season game would be held in the new 1,600-seat Kaua‘i High gym! Mahalo to Mayor Derek Kawakami, Senate President Ron Kouchi, Rep. Jimmy Tokioka and the sponsors for putting together an amazing youth clinic with the Rainbow Warriors!

On Sept. 10, the Rainbow Warrior baseball team held a youth skills camp at Vidinha Stadium for 120 boys and girls from kindergarten through 6th grade. Coaches Rich Hill and Dallas Correa met with Mayor Derek Kawakami and Senate President Ron Kouchi. Mahalo to the UH men's baseball and basketball teams for coming to Kaua‘i to pour into our keiki!

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    Meet Albert Antonio, who celebrated 25 years at Corteva Hawai‘i’s Research Center!


    Congratulations, Albert, on an amazing 25 years of work at Corteva Hawaii’s Research Center! Albert is part of the agronomy-irrigation crew and loves his job and the people he works with.

    It’s a friendly and fun atmosphere where he enjoys going to work every morning. Raised by farmer parents who planted rice and vegetables, Albert knew it was truly his passion to be surrounded by plants.

    

    Before working at Corteva, Albert worked in a construction business as an electrician back home in the Philippines during off-season in the farm. When he arrived in Hawai‘i in 1984, he started working at Larry Jeffts Farm and Coffees of Hawai‘i in Molokai as an irrigator/ equipment operator before moving to Corteva 25 years ago.

    

    “I feel calm when doing my rounds in the farm seeing the plants growing and getting healthier,” Albert said. “I like the opportunity to work with my colleagues. They are motivated and inspire me daily.”

    

    When he’s not working, Albert enjoys spending time with his wife and kids and hopes to travel around the world, including a tour of the Philippines with his family. He also enjoys gardening and fixing home appliances. Albert’s favorite foods are pinakbet and ube macapuno ice cream. Mahalo for your 25 years of work, Albert!

    Copyright © 2022 Corteva Agriscience, All rights reserved.
    You are receiving this email because you opted in during a recent community event, a visit to one of our farms, or at our website: www.hawaii.corteva.com

    Our mailing address is:
    Corteva Agriscience | P.O Box 609, Waimea, HI 96796


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