The 52nd Annual Papaya Conference was held at the Keaau Community Center on October 26th. It was attended by over 60 persons celebrating the papaya industry and surviving the challenges from this years devastating lava flow in lower Puna. Speakers included Dr. Richard Manshardt who is over seeing the CTHARs rainbow seed production project, Gareth Mendonsa from HDOA ag loan division, Sharon Wages from CTHAR talking about how to control fruit fly, Glenn Sato from the County of Hawaii R&D, Judith Houle speaking on Ag theft prevention, Suzanne Shrinner on Lava Disaster relief efforts, and Eric Weinert giving a virtual tour of the newly designed HPIA website. Ken Ogawa from Nutrien Ag Solutions organized and hosted the raffle prizes. Jarred Enriques from BEI donated the pork for the meal.
Thanks to Committee members Ken Ogawa, Sharon Wages, Chris Wengler, Ross Sibucao, Eric Weinert
Grand Prize winner Willy Tuares with Ken Ogawa