LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau “deferred” the annual
Garden
Fair that was scheduled for April 4 on the
campus of Kaua‘i Community College.
“Given the rapid
expansion of COVID-19 and considering the health and safety of our Kaua‘i community, the KCFB board of directors has decided to defer the Garden Fair as well as the Farm Fair for 2020,” states a release from the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau.
“At this moment, holding an event that brings together hundreds of people in close proximity was deemed not prudent.”
The KCFB said that in alignment with measures being taken by a key partner, the University of Hawai‘i, the 2020 Garden Fair that was to be held in April is canceled for this year.
“The outlook for public-health conditions this summer is also uncertain even as key decisions and commitments for the farm fair are quickly approaching,” KCFB said.
“As a volunteer organization, we fully appreciate the time and effort it takes to organize and prepare an event of this complexity. We thus recognized the need to provide clarity to the vendors, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders about the status of one of Kaua‘i’s largest public events. Given the stakes, we made a decision with the information that was available.”
“We were excited about the Garden Fair, and looking forward to the 52nd year of the farm fair,” the KCFB board said. “Though we regret having to take these actions, our responsibility to safeguard the health and welfare of the public, our volunteers and members is important.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island