What is being produced in American Samoa from breadfruit and banana was on display at the first ever dried export expo sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Presenting at the expo in Washington DC. on November 16 was Rep. Su’a Alexander Jennings, who has been developing products from ulu and fa’i at his home in Pava’ia’i.
Su’a said the event provided an opportunity to showcase American Samoa to USDA and draw attention to the diversity of peoples who can be served in a very tangible way, while complementing USDA Food Programs,.
Programs such as school lunch, humanitarian feeding, armed forces, international aid, and dozens of other areas in which U.S. produced foodstuffs are purchased and promoted at home and around the world.
Su’a, who chairs the House Forestry, Agriculture and Marine Resources Committee, gave a presentation to key U.S. Government staff, describing the possibilities and potential for breadfruit and banana flour grown and made in American Samoa.
Sua’s commented, “This was an important opportunity to communicate that American Samoa has innovative tropical products starting with banana and breadfruit flour.”
His participation was arranged by Tom Payne, a food industry specialist who met the Swains faipule here in the territory in July and was shown some of the products that the lawmaker produces using breadfruit and bananas.
Payne thought there could be possibilities, and he and Rep Su’a have been communicating ever since.
For his presentation at the USDA expo, Su’a held a tootoo and fue which were lent him by Nikolao Pula, Director of the Office of Insular Affairs.
The orator’s staff and whisk had belonged to the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, whom Pula interned for when he first started his career in the federal government.
Also displayed was a siapo donated by Abe Jamias .
Rep Su’a said, “The tradeshow provided an excellent opportunity to present breadfruit and banana flours and to show the potential for Samoan koko (chocolate).”
Samples of breadfruit flour, banana flour, and pancake mix were provided along with specially made products for tasting.
The lawmaker from Swains also had packets of information on American Samoa, including a map showing where the territory is located in the Pacific.
