The Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii has scheduled its 19th Annual Taste of Hilo for Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sangha Hall in Hilo.

The Taste of Hilo annually features the culinary skills of more than 35 chefs, restaurants and patisseries, who provide their talents, ingredients and staff to make this annual event a success.

Discover what your favorite restaurants will be featuring at this year’s Taste of Hilo.

Pre-sale tickets are available at $55 each. They may be purchased by calling the chamber’s office at (808) 934- 0177 or at [email protected].

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Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $70, if the event has not sold out.

A portion of event proceeds goes to support the Hawaii Community College. Over the years, the Japanese Chamber has raised more than $160,000 to support educational programs at the Hawaii Community College.

This year’s event will feature pigs raised by natural farming practices developed by Master Kyu Han Cho of the Janong Natural Farming Institute of South Korea. Master Cho developed this sustainable farming method using generations-old practices from Japan and South Korea,

combined with his graduate education in agriculture and veterinary science.

The pigs are raised in a natural deep litter environment similar to a forest. The pigs are not

confined in gestation or farrowing crates, which can be very stressful. The animals are allowed

to roam free in their pens improving meat quality. Microbes are added to the pens to help

breakdown manure resulting in an odorless and fly-free environment. The system never has to be cleaned resulting in fewer water quality problems often caused by washing the pens down. The microbes help to boost the pigs’ natural immunity to prevent disease thus antibiotics, vaccines and hormones are never used.

The first piggery to use natural farming techniques in the U.S. is located in Kurtistown. It was

built in 2009 and continues to be a productive piggery. Additional piggeries are under

construction at Rutgers University, Oregon State University, Texas A&M, and Clemson

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawai‘i fosters economic sustainability as

well as perpetuating the Japanese cultural heritage and traditions in Hawai`i. Its mission is to

promote the wellbeing of our community through business and personal relationships that

embody the values of Kahiau & Okage Sama De. In Hawaiian, Kahiau means giving without

expecting anything in return. Okage Sama De is a Japanese proverb, which means I am what I

am because of you.