Ma'o Organic Farms

This is an amazing organic farm in Waianae that we need to support! They sell their produce (mainly known for salad mixes) in a lot of major supermarkets on island and provide them fresh the day of harvest so you are getting local and fresh greens.They are a full scale organic farm- the biggest on Oahu! They do a lot of crop rotations and let fields fallow: using sustainable and smart agricultural practices to take care of the land and ensure the success of crops. During my visit there, I was most impressed at their work to empower the Waianae community by employing and training their young people. Most of the farmers there are under 30! They have student programs providing financial assistance to students on the coast while they work at the farm. They also have summer and intercession internships that get kids on the college track.I was so impressed with the leaders that I met there. They are doing great work that embodies strong cultural values.

It's not hard to support a local business when the product that is offered is superior in quality. With Ma'o organic farms, you get veggies that are all-natural, void of chemicals, and really great tasting! So when I learned that they were doing an imu turkey fundraiser this year, I jumped at the chance to see for myself the hard work and efforts of the many volunteers, but to also have for the first time a kalua turkey! If you're wondering, the turkey tasted like a whole new level of awesome. It's been awhile since I've eaten a Turkey that wasn't dry. The meat was easy to take off from the bone and every bite was flavorful. The kiawe scent was permanently infused in the meat, making it unbearable as I was driving away. The staff let us tour the farm and see the imu that was dug by the bare hands of their staff. I really appreciate the hard work they put into their fund raiser and am glad that my money ($15) went to a worthy cause. I would definitely do it again!

This review is about the poor customer service at the Ma'o booth at the Wai'anae Shopping Center Farmers Market. I was invited to a home cooked dinner by visiting 'aiga (family). One cousin is a retired culinary teacher, so wanted to impress her with Naked Cow butters and Ma'o organic produce. At the Ma'o booth, the two young'uns behind the tables were chatting and stopped talking as I approached. For some reason, they just glared at me as I looked over the goods. I don't require overly friendly or intrusive customer service, but a smile, a greeting, goes a long way to separating shoppers from their money, which is what retail is all about. The ONLY thing that was said to me was the price of the items I picked out. Since I look haole/palagi, I'm used to being dissed and try not to pull a Mainland style fit when it happens. Goes with living here. I vent on Yelp, where it counts. But as I turned to go, heard the young man say a cheerful "Good Morning, Sir" to the next customer. I turned and the customer was a white-looking guy. So what did I do to deserve such sullen treatment? Was it because I interrupted their gabfest? Seriously? The next time my usos (means cousin as well as sibling) are in town, won't be bringing them Ma'o produce, that's for sure. And even if this review ends up in the Yelp discard pile, Ma'o Farms needs to know that customer service is half the battle for revenue, especially after the scrutiny from that unfortunate accident a few years ago. From one Chaminade MBA.

Ma'O Organic Farms is a fantastic place. Not only do they grow fine organic vegetables that they supply to the Alan Wongs et al of Hawaii, they are a hugely positive influence on the community. They are a not-for-profit with a business attitude. Which is to say that every dime they make they put back into the farm. Their website really says it all so I won't get into all of it.They have a program where kids can work on the farm and learn how to grow organic foods. They seem to give so much back to the community that it's no wonder that they are growing as an organization. If you don't want to drive to Waianae, you can find their products at the KCC farmers market for sure, and probably a few other farmers' markets.No Panic Go Organic :) On a practical note their vegetables last longer because they are fresher.

This review is for their CSA - I absolutely love it! I've subscribed for a couple months now and have been impressed and pleased with the quality and quantity of the produce in each box. Sign up and payment was very easy through their website. There are several pickup locations, so it's very convenient. I have had experience with several other CSAs in the past and this one is my favorite. Everything is fresh and delicious, and it's like my birthday every week when I pick up the box and find new presents! It's allowed me and my husband to try new recipes, and we go through the contents within the course of the week. Any leftovers I can throw into a stir fry or juice them, I rarely waste anything. There's always a nice variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and one week we got a jar of pickled mango, which was awesome! The Sassy Salad mix is by far the best salad I have ever had. I love that I can get a variety of fresh-out-the-ground, organic produce at an affordable price, while supporting a local farm. Highly recommend if you are looking for a CSA or just want to eat healthy and delicious food!

The CSA is kinda sketchy. They have a very short pick up window, and if you miss the two hour window, they keep your money and your food and sell it to someone else. They set up an auto deduct with your bank and even after giving them two months notice not to renew and them acknowledging they would not renew, they did so anyway. The food is good, but the business practices leave much to be desired. I would not do business with them again.

As an intern at Ma'o Organic Farm, I would highly recommend taking an interest in making an appearance at our annual give day service. We take a day to literally give back to the farm and the land as individuals. We been having this service and I have been making my appearance ever since I became an intern there and it's rather a great feeling. You come, you work, you give back, you eat and you leave with nothing but knowledge. Working on a farm has its cons where as you work in the hot sun and you get muddy but honestly you can't say you expect any different after all, it is a farm

I wish I had read these reviews before I signed up. Communication is terrible. Difficult to contact them. They can just decide not to show up at pick up locations and not say a thing and you can't reach them by phone or email meanwhile they've already taken your money from the start. I can't believe they are in business. If people want better service you're better off going to Down To Earth. I hope this review saves a lot of people from getting into relations with terrible business. If they are running late all they'd have to do is communicate via text reply, group email etc. If they don't have enough produce all they have to do is communicate honestly. May Karma take care.

Ma'o Farm seems to be giving back to the community all that it takes in! They support the kids at Waianae High, providing them with the means and knowledge to go back to their roots with a tremendous sense of pride and a college degree in hand!! Indeed, in exchange for the work the kids put in at the farm, Ma'o Farm offers tuition help to send them to college. Their produce is fresh and crisp and taste like living in Hawai'i makes us feel: lucky to get to enjoy the very best life has to offer! Keep up the great work, Ma'o Farm!

CSA poor customer service. They sell all their good stuff to the stores and the CSA customers get what is left. The vegetables are small, really small. The beats and carrots were basically top greens. If you try to contact them with questions, good luck getting an answer back. Don't waste your time or money.