The farmers of American Samoa, both men and women, have turned out in force for the Department of Agriculture Farm Fair. The three day fair opened early yesterday morning at the Fagatogo marketplace.
From our observations, the market which opened in 2008 has never displayed such a large variety and quantity of crops, vegetables, fruits, plants and other food from the land and sea..
Farmer Tavita Soli Fuimaono said he and the other farmers who are displaying the fruits of their labor at the fair want to show the leaders and people of American Samoa that they can supply the food needs of the territory.
He said, “We don’t need to import crops from Samoa, Tonga or other places.”
Fuimaono is displaying taro, bananas, and papaya from his plantation.
He said, “This fair shows that we have abundant supplies of popular staples such as taro, bananas, breadfruit and what our people want to eat.”Fishermen were also selling their catches and a few nurseries were selling ornamental plants, ferns, palms and other garden favorites.
The fair continues today and will end at noon tomorrow.
Photos: ASVB & Carina Elisara
