Maui County’s coffee industry will be well represented during this year’s festival with vendors from Maui Coffee Association, MauiGrown Coffee Company Store, Maui Coffee Roasters, and Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Company offering coffee samples and a variety of products for sale. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MADE IN MAUI COUNTY FESTIVAL.

WAILUKU – Maui County’s largest products show, the annual Made in Maui County Festival, last week announced the product vendors and food trucks that will be participating in this much-anticipated event on Nov. 3-4 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

Now in its fourth year, this major event will again showcase hundreds of Made-in-Maui County products while helping to grow the islands’ small businesses.

More than 140 product vendors will offer a wide variety of foods, produce, art, crafts, jewelry, fashions, furniture, gifts, collectibles and more. Of this total, 35 businesses are new to the event, 16 businesses are from Molokai and five are from Lanai. Additionally, Maui’s popular food trucks will be featured – four on Friday and 13 on Saturday – offering a myriad of island-inspired menu items.

For a complete list of 2017 vendors and food trucks, visit “http://www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com/2017vendors”>www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com/2017vendors.

Presented by the county Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the festival was created to help grow small businesses on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai by providing opportunities for participating vendors to meet with prospective wholesalers and connect with new customers.

Maui Nui Wear from Lahaina will offer their eco-friendly tote bags fabricated from durable, super lightweight textured mesh.

Product vendors must meet certain criteria in order to participate, including having their business based on the islands of Maui, Molokai or Lanai. Products being offered for sale also have to be made in Maui County and meet a minimum 51 percent of their value added in Hawaii. Vendors’ branding, packaging, website/online presence, and interest in and/or readiness to export are also taken into account.

“This event is all about creating opportunities – both showcasing our island as a shopping destination and serving as a springboard for our local companies to take their business to the next level,” said Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa.

“The county is proud to be co-presenting this event with the Maui Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening our island’s economic growth and development. Through these types of important partnerships and with the support of community-minded stakeholders, we can continue to make a difference in the future of Maui County’s economy.”

“We extend a big mahalo to our hardworking Made in Maui County Festival Committee, who carefully vetted each vendor application,” said Pam Tumpap, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

“We were very impressed with the creativity and talents of this year’s vendors. Some of these businesses have been around for a while with their products already offered for sale statewide and even in international markets. Others are just starting out, and this festival is their first major products show. With hundreds of products being offered for sale, the public is definitely in for a treat this November!”

The 2017 festival will begin on Friday, Nov. 3, with a special “Exclusive Shopping Day” from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Festivities include the opening ceremonies and complimentary refreshments at 4 p.m. Food will also be available for purchase from four food trucks in the Pasha Hawaii Food Court up to 5:30 p.m. Attendees will receive a free festival tote bag and have the opportunity to win a “Maui Getaway Travel Package” (must be present to win). Tickets ($35 per person, with children 12 and under free) are available at the MACC Box Office at (808) 242-SHOW (7469) or www.MauiArts.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 4, the “Big Festival Day” will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Public admission is $5 at the gate; children 12 and under are free. Saturday’s festivities will include product demonstrations, a fashion show and more on the Hawaiian Airlines Event Stage in the Yokouchi Pavilion; 13 food trucks in the Pasha Hawaii Food Court; and prize drawings throughout the day (need not be present to win). The first 2,000 attendees will also receive a free festival tote bag.

On both days, attendees can enter Hawaiian Airlines’ drawing for a chance to win 120,000 HawaiianMiles.

Qualified wholesale buyers may also register online at www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com/Preview to receive complimentary admission to attend a special “Buyer’s Preview” on Friday, Nov. 3.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, e-mail info@MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, call (808) 270-7710 or follow the event on Facebook, Twitter (#MIMCF2017), Instagram and Pinterest.