Gluten free article in the Maui News

Thank you, Carla Tracy and the Maui News for including us in this weeks Scene. There is a great article about being Gluten Free on Maui. Mana's portion is below, but you can read the entire article here

Mana Foods in Paia
For 29 long years, Mana Foods on Baldwin Avenue in Paia has been selling gluten-free products. Today, it offers more than 1,000 GF foods. "As awareness has grown, so has availability of gluten-free items," says Mana Food's Chris Ozee, buyer, manager and partner.

 "In the last four years, it has become a focus for Mana Foods. In the summer of 2009, we started an online column, Gluten Freedom, a monthly offering of GF recipes and tips. The current month is available as a handout in the store and archives are online at www.manafoodsmaui.com." Shoppers won't find a particular GF section, but rather products displayed all over the store in categories such as breads, baked goods, cereals, frozen entrees, pastas, crackers, snacks, desserts, cookies, baking mixes, sport bars, protein powders and more. Just look for the colorful GF shelf labels to find them. 

One of the most popular items is Udi's multi-grain bread, frozen and in the deli. "Udi's whole line is great," says Ozee. "Pamela's has a great GF line, Cadia has some good rice pastas and cookies, Food for Life rice breads have been around for years and they now offer GF English muffins. Canyon Baked breads are a new one and selling quite well. Udi's, Conte's, Bold, and Bella Monica pizzas are all very tasty."

 Mana Food's Purchasing Director Sunette Fenn says there is more public awareness these days. "More and more people are discovering they have either gluten intolerance or Celiac disease, and that dictates the market. We offer the best products we can at the lowest prices." For more details, call Mana Foods at 579-8078.

Did you know?

Cacao is the Mayan word for bitter juice and the word chocolate comes from the Mayan for sour water.

Donation to Paia School

Mana Foods donated $100 to Paia School through the Small Planet Foods box top program. That's Paia School Principal Susan Alivado and Mana Foods' Purchasing Director Marie DeJournette in the photo above.

Natural Beauty: Aromatherapy Disperser

Spa Vapor Aromatherapy uses water to diffuse your essential oils (instead of burning them). It creates micro fine vapors that remain suspended in the air for extended time. It is nearly silent so it can be used both at night or during the day. The diffuser creates negative ions with its ultrasonic action, has a LED Ligh in 6 color options and is BPA free. Try it with the Mana Foods essential oils.

Natural Beauty: Mana Essential Oils

Mana Foods is proud to offer food quality essential oils in cobalt glass bottles. Look for the Mana Foods brand in the bamboo glass case int he vitamin room.

Natural Beauty: Maui Organics

This rich body lotion is made on Maui by the Island Essence. Maui Organics lotions are available at Mana Foods in 4 scents: Big Island Vanilla with Fresh Island Coconuts, Purely Soft and Sweet, Plumeria Passions with a Hint of Pikake - a Fragrant, Floral Paradise, Coco Manako with Mango & Coconut with a Splash of Fresh Grapefruit, and Ocean Passion With a Hint of Lime - Passionately Fun!

Fan mail for Mana Foods

Recently, this charming handwritten note was slipped to one of the owners of Mana Foods. It's so nice to be appreciated! We wouldn't be in business for nearly 30 years, if it weren't for our awesome customer community. We appreciate you too!

Did you know?

Mana Foods is now using biodegradable trays in the deli and meat department. These environmentally friendly trays are compostable and recyclable made from annually renewable, wild harvested plant fibers. They are tree free, GMO free, gluten free and Cradle to Cradle certified. They are chemical and bleach free. Home composting time 2-4 months.

Fresh News: Ka'u Oranges

Don't judge a book by it's cover! Don't let the outside fool you, these Big Island oranges are dripping with bright and zingy sweet juices.

Buy back the beach benefit

Mana Foods is proud to sponsor the 12th annual fundraiser Buy Back the Beach 2013 – Saturday, January 26th at Old Lahaina Lu‘au. The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust's mission is simple: To protect the lands that sustain us for current and future generations. Check out this link to learn more

Fresh News: Broccoli

We now have a steady supply of locally grown organic broccoli. Broccoli is one of top selling items, so not having to import so much of it is a huge win!

Fresh News: Tomato time!

Our Maui growers are in full effect, with 4 local sources of beautiful tomatoes  We have Maui Gown, Maui Select, Olowalu Nui Farm, and Hana Fresh.

Gluten Freedom: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chewies

Gluten Free Protein Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chewies: 3 C Bob’s Red Mill GF rolled oats,     1 C of Organic peanut butter,    ½ C vanilla almond milk (unsweetened),    1 tsp vanilla extract,       ¼ C Organic Coconut Oil,      1 Tbsp stevia extract,   1 scoop or 1 packet of Garden of Life Vanilla RAW Protein Powder.
In a large saucepan, combine the stevia extract, coconut oil and almond milk. Bring to a full boil for one minute and stir the mixture constantly so it does not stick to the pan. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla extract, stirring until peanut butter is completely melted. Stir in the oats and RAW Protein, and stir well with a wooden spoon until combined. Quickly drop spoonfuls on sheets of wax or parchment paper and cool completely. Enjoy!! Recipe courtesy of Garden of Life

Support Hana School in January

For the month of December, Mana Foods will donate your bag credit to the Hana School. It's really easy, whenever you bring your own bag to use at Mana Foods, you receive a bag credit of $.05. You can donate this or take it off your bill.

Happy New Year!

We will be open today from 10am - 6pm