This open market is called the “Akebono Pahoa Open Farmers Market” located in the back parking lot of the Akebono Theatre in old Pahoa Town. Market hours are every Sunday from 6:30 am- 2pm but most vendors arrive by 7:30 am and start packing up at 1pm. There are many vendors with fresh produce available, along with other vendors offering a variety of items they bring for sale.
I wondered what reaction I would get when I ask customers at random if they would like to fill out a survey for a University class research project I created. Understandably their first question was, “What is it about?” When I briefly explained it was about the customer’s viewpoint on the food they purchased at open markets, I gratefully noticed an encouraging openness and willingness to participate.
In a previous blog entitled ‘A simple survey is not so simple” , is the survey I passed out at Sunday’s Pahoa open food market. I will distribute the same survey to market customers for their comment, as I visit more open markets around the island.
Out of ten people asked, I was able to receive eight completed surveys with three of the survey participants willing to have a personal interview at another time. I was very happy to have what I considered a positive response to people participation in my survey sampling. Mahalo (thank you, in Hawaiian ) everyone!