Rudy Balala, the hardworking general manager of Maui Gold Pineapple.
Big things are happening over at Maui Gold Pineapple and holding strong at the helm is general manager, Rudy Balala. In the pineapple industry for 45 years, Balala says the industry has changed remarkably since he began his career in 1979 as a seasonal field worker for Maui Land and Pineapple (MLP) at age 14. “The canning of pineapple was once a large part of Maui’s economy, employing several thousand residents and at one point, there were about 10,000 acres of pineapple growing on different parts of the island,” Balala says.
Over time, Hawaii couldn’t compete with the overseas competition and the canning industry felt the pressure of a sharp decline. “The shipping of fresh fruit initially started in the late 1980’s with a program known as Jet Fresh”, says Balala. “Fruit was hand-picked and loaded in airline containers and shipped all over the United States and this endeavor was successful and grew to be a large part of MLP’s business. During this period, the Maui Gold Pineapple variety was being grown in small plots with the hope of this variety being the future of fresh fruit for MLP. As canning continued to decline, the decision was made in 2003 to transform the farm from a cannery variety of pineapple, which is higher in acid, to the Maui Gold variety, which is high in sugar and low in acid.”
The Maui Gold variety was a mainstay by 2006 but due to unrelenting losses in the canning industry, MLP stopped canning functions in 2007 and began to place their focus on fresh fruit. “MLP tried to continue operations but decided to end all pineapple production on December 31, 2009,” says Balala. “When they made the announcement, it seemed that would be the end of pineapple on Maui.”
Due to the hard work and massive efforts of Balala and Darren Strand, the director of agriculture for Maui Gold Pineapple, jobs—and pineapple—were protected. “A lot of work was put into developing Maui Gold, and we could not fathom seeing it disappear,” says Balala. “Darren and I got an investment group together and were able to continue the farm operations as Haliimaile Pineapple Company, after which the farm went through a couple of ownership changes.”
As of this year, the farm is locally owned and operated. “I know that Maui Gold Pineapple will continue to grow and thrive on Maui under our new ownership, and I couldn’t be happier to continue to be a part of this special farm on Maui,” says Balala.
Rudy Balala in the field.
The tourism industry has changed over the years as well. Balala sees many sightseers that are interested in visiting farms and learning about not only the local agriculture, but also, the people who live and work on the island. This new way of connecting with visitors has established long-term relationships. “We have been operating the Maui Pineapple Tour since 2010 and our company also has a chocolate tour and coconut tour,” says Balala. “The partnership of tourism and agriculture is so important to our farms and is what’s helping to sustain our farming operations. We are able to connect visitors to the land and teach them something—they have a great experience. When they return home, they are able to order our pineapple and value-add products to be shipped to their door.”
Of course, seeing a working farm, tasting fresh pineapple straight from the field, and meeting someone like Balala is a unique experience. Guests get to see the last pineapple farm on the island and learn about the history and infrastructure that was built circa 1920s. “The Maui Pineapple Tour takes you to the field to talk about the operations, tractor work, planting, growing practices, harvesting techniques, and finally, how we get the fruit ready for market,” says Balala. “During the tour, guests get to experience why Maui Gold is the best pineapple in the world today.”
Farming is an important part of Maui’s sustainability and while the island has a lot of fertile soil, where a diversity of crops may be grown, much of the food on the island is imported. “It is imperative that we support and try to increase the amount of food being produced on the island,” says Balala. “The more dependent we get on food grown on the island the better off we will be.”
Balala, an expert in the space, is involved in multiple groups—Maui Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association, and Maui Food Innovation Center, which helps bring issues to the forefront and put action to words. “There is a lot of synergy between the farmers and manufacturers and having both groups work together will help Maui increase its food security by having fresh as well as shelf stable food,” says Balala.
Rudy Balala preparing pineapple packages for Maui Gold’s relief efforts, ‘Pineapple Pledge,’ to … [+] benefit the Lahaina community affected by the devastating August wildfires.
And how will Rudy inspire future generations of farmers to continue on with his legacy? Education is key. “If we can get youngsters interested in agriculture and relay the importance of it early on, I’m sure that we could get more interest,” Balala says. “Especially now, more than ever, with improved technology and the new implementations and developments in the industry—it’s perfect to get future generations interested and involved in agriculture, particularly those who want to make a difference in the world. I will, even after I retire, be involved in agriculture as it is in my blood.”
Now that yield and recovery aren’t the main priorities, Maui Gold Pineapple has shifted the concentration. “The focus is providing the consumer with a high quality, ready-to eat-fruit and we will uphold that commitment,” says Balala. “As farming has changed, so has technology, and we will continue to find ways to be more efficient farmers. We are looking at materials that are more environmentally friendly, keeping in mind the health and safety of our employees, community, and land. We are also focusing on Grown on Maui products, working with other farmers to continue and improve the health of Maui’s agricultural sector.”
