Maui County Farm Bureau announces new tv show, “Kokua Ag: Growing Our Future Together”

Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D., a nationally recognized registered dietitian and nutrition expert, shares information on various food-related topics with Kokua Show’s host Chivo Ching-Johnson.

A new TV show entitled “Kokua Ag: Growing Our Future Together” will air on Akaku’s Channel 55 on Thursday, September 10th at 9 pm. The show will re-air on Friday, September 11th at 9 am and 9 pm; Saturday, September 12th at 1 pm; and on Sunday, September 13th at 1 pm on the same channel.

Kokua Ag is a positive initiative of the Maui County Farm Bureau that seeks to educate the community about important agricultural issues and, most importantly, what we can all do to support a vibrant future for Maui ag.

The inaugural show, hosted by Chivo Ching-Johnson features guests Mary Lee Chin, a registered dietitian and nutrition expert who specializes in food-related educational initiatives; David Stoltzfus, Maui Lead for Monsanto Hawaii; and Rhonda Stoltzfus, a master bee keeper, mom and blogger who writes about agriculture.

The Kokua Ag show explores how we can build a stronger bridge between farmers – the people who produce our food and consumers – those of us who depend on the farmers for our daily meals.  Guests discuss provocative food topics of today, including genetically modified foods, environmental and sustainability issues, and solutions for producing food for a growing population.

Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D., specializes in significant food issues and nutrition trends, working with commodity food groups and food industry on nutrition education initiatives. She has served as an expert witness on food related issues in federal and legislative hearings; and serves on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “R.D. Farmer & Agriculture Committee of Experts” to advise on their “Future of Food” and “Healthy Food, Healthy Planet” initiatives; Advisory Boards of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; and the Community Health & Nutrition Program at University of Northern Colorado. She was named Outstanding Dietitian of the Year by the Colorado Dietetic Association in both 2012 and 1985, and is a recipient of Denver’s “2007 Women of Distinction” Award from Girl Scouts of America-Mile High Chapter. Mary Lee formerly held a six-year term as one of the original national spokespersons for the 75,000 member Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Maui residents David & Rhonda Stoltzfus have an extensive background in farming, and love to share their knowledge and passion for agriculture and food with others. Raised on a family farm in Iowa, David has earned degrees in agronomy, plant breeding and business management. David currently serves as the Maui Lead for Monsanto Hawaii. His wife Rhonda is originally from northern California and earned her degree in horticulture from Iowa State University. She is a master bee keeper and owned a fruit farm before moving to Hawaii seven years ago. Rhonda has a personal blog called Iowa Meets Maui, where she writes extensively about agriculture, their family, and life on Maui.