Kunoa Cattle Company is a vertically integrated beef startup launched three years ago by Jack and his co-founder Bobby Farias, a third-generation Kauai rancher. Instead of shipping cattle to the mainland for processing, Kunoa raises and processes its beef in Hawaii, creating local jobs and helping the state achieve its mission of doubling local food production.

In November, the company acquired Oahu’s only USDA-inspected livestock harvest facility and is completing a series of major upgrades to the nearly seven-acre Kapolei property, focused on enhancing animal welfare, preserving meat quality and improving food safety.

This spring, Kunoa announced its largest partnership to date with a Hawaii grocer, offering 100 percent Hawaii-grown ground beef at all 15 Times Supermarkets throughout Oahu and at its two supermarkets on Maui. Also available at select Times Supermarkets on Oahu are Kunoa’s meat bars, a high-quality, shelf-stable snack similar to beef jerky.