HAWAII ISLAND — Jim Reddekopp and his wife Tracy moved to the Big Island from Oahu 18 years ago because, he says, that island got “too busy.”
“My wife and I had dreams of raising our children in a rural environment,” he says. “The Big Island is raw. It's still untouched.”
Now, the Reddekopps and their kids are running the Hawaiian Vanilla Co., which draws island visitors for vanilla-infused luncheons and tours of the 20-acre farm.
“It's like welcoming people into our home,” he says.
Hawaii is known for its stunning beaches and resorts, but beyond the surf and sand, there's an abundance of agricultural land that many travelers don't think to explore.
Farming sugar, cattle, pineapples, and coffee began in the early 19th century. Sugar is no longer a viable industry, but Hawaiians have turned their attention to a more diverse bounty.
The state has 7,000 farms and more than 1.1 million acres of land in production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to cattle and coffee, these farms produce such goods as vanilla, mushrooms, lavender and even pineapple wine.
Source: Hawaiian harvest: Exotic agriculture, pineapple wine