PUPUKEA GARDENS FARMING

Growing Lettuce

The Hawaii's Special Company started on Pupukea Gardens farm on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Beginning with lettuce cultivation distributed to local customers, the operation expanded as commercial interest grew. The Hawaii's Special Salad Dressing line is an expansion of the original farming operation. The farm currently supplies product to various restaurants on the islands and is developing larger commercial accounts on the islands as well as the mainland.

Growing Lettuce

Pupukea Farms operates a "raised-table" farming process. Raised-table farming is a method of growing crops on an elevated table as opposed to in-ground. The benefits of this process are increased ease of farming. The height of the beds makes planting and harvesting more ergonomically correct, as caretakers are alleviated from bending far down to attend to the crop. Raising the crop off of ground level deters various pests from destroying the harvest. The added benefit of crop mobility arises out of the design of the beds, which are easily transferred to different locations by simply moving the tables and cinder block foundation.

Cutting Lettuce

Our lettuce crops are sown directly into the growing medium, which is composed of a mixture of potting soil and volcanic cinder. By carefully nurturing the growing crop with water, fertilizers, and organic (natural) sprays, our process ensures healthy development of produce. We utilize a crop rotation system that involves periodic planting of tables to ensure a consistent output of product. The tropical Hawaiian climate in which we farm allows year round lettuce production.
Our lettuce is harvested at its peak point of development to ensure sweet, tender, and non-bitter greens. After cutting several different types, they are mixed together, washed, dried and packaged for distribution to wholesale and retail accounts.

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