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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 28, 2009

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Papaya production fell in November

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i papaya growers received about 39 cents per pound in November, about 1 cent more than the same time a year earlier.

ADVERTISER LIBRARY PHOTO | 2006

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Hawai'i papaya production fell 14 percent in November from the same month a year earlier, but was still 1 percent higher over the first 11 months of the year compared with the previous year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Farmers produced an estimated 2.6 million pounds of papaya in November. Production for the first 11 months of the year totaled 28.1 million pounds.

Growers received 39 cents per pound of fresh papaya in November, 4 cents less than in October but about 1 cent more than a year earlier.

Although production was good for some growers, the poor economy hampered sales, the NASS said.


FOODLAND CUSTOMERS DONATED $90K

Customers of Foodland Super Market donated $90,522 to help feed Hawai'i families during the recent holiday season.

The amount raised was 60 percent more than what was raised last year under the annual program, according to Foodland Chairwoman and CEO Jenai Wall.

"The fact that we more than doubled donations ... this year is not only heartwarming, it is a testament to the caring, giving nature of the people of Hawai'i," she said in a statement.

Under Foodland's Share a Holiday Feast Program, customers made donations inside Foodland and Sack N Save stores during November and December. The donations were converted to Foodland gift certificates distributed by The Salvation Army to needy families.

Maj. Edward Hill, Salvation Army divisional commander, said the contributions allowed the nonprofit to help more people affected by the current economic downturn.

Foodland's Share a Holiday Feast event started in 1988 at the suggestion of a Maui customer who wanted to donate a turkey to a needy family during Thanksgiving.


MARCH HEARING ON WAIKIKI PROJECT

The city has scheduled a public hearing on a developer's application to build a small two-story retail complex in Waikiki.

Malibu, Calif.-based American Commercial Equities LLC plans to develop the 14,000-square-foot complex at 1944 Kalakaua Ave. on the diamondhead corner of Niu Street near Fort DeRussy.

The property is largely a former car-rental lot and is adjacent to the recently opened ING Direct savings bank Internet cafe on the site of a former Local Motion store also owned by American Commercial.

American Commercial needs a Waikiki Special District Permit to proceed with the plan.

The city Department of Planning and Permitting will hold a public hearing on the permit application March 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Honolulu Hale in Room 205, the City Council committee meeting room.