by Larry Geller

If you’re headed out to market tomorrow (Saturday), you have a choice. There are two new markets in addition to KCC Farmers Market. One is on the Sears parking lot at Ala Moana Center, the other is in Kakaako.

The KCC Farmers Market hours are 7:30-11:00 a.m. Ala Moana will be open from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. The Kakaako market, near Ilalo and Ahui Streets, will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Some vendors from KCC have moved to Ala Moana. Some are at both. So if your favorite vendor is no longer at KCC, drop by Sears on your way home and see if you find them there.

There’s one more market – at Kakaako. Checking into it after our visit to Sears, we found only a couple of lonely tents and no customers at all.  I don’t hold out much hope for it, especially given the competition. Here’s a pic of the biggest part of it:

How will the market competition sort out? Time will tell. KCC Farmers Market is a popular tourist destination, but tourists don’t buy zucchini, they buy pizza, fried green tomatoes and other prepared food. Many of the vendors at the Sears location say that they hope local buyers will switch. Many of their favorites are already at Sears, including MA`O, North Shore Farms, Otsuji and others. But there will need to be more, and the newcomers might take a cue and get some little signs up with names and prices of their produce.

Right now there’s plenty of parking at Ala Moana Center, so it’s very reasonable to do first KCC and then follow up at Sears if one of your favorite vendors has switched or has sold out of something you need.

This is “eat local” month, and with the new choices, you have less excuse to be seen in a supermarket.

Permalink posted by Larry @ 9/09/2011 05:02:00 PM  ;  0 comments - add your comment links to this post