Director of Agriculture Solia Mutini told a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee that a continuous shortage of eggs in the territory made him look next door to Samoa for an alternative source for eggs.
He said that the territory’s one egg farm cannot supply the demand, and egg shipments from the United States arrive close to the end of the shelf life of the eggs.
Mutini said the COVID pandemic illustrated the need for American Samoa to secure food security, and the Atoa Samoa talks provided a framework to source food supplies from the territory’s closest neighbor.
According to Mutini, the egg shipments from Samoa were to be trialed for 6 months; and he visited Samoa 4 to 5 times to check on egg farms there.
The Director vouched that the eggs were of good quality.
He apologized to senators for his department’s shortcomings with the egg shipments, which have now been stopped.
He said, they are still corresponding with the US Department of Agriculture about the eggs from Samoa.
For now, the USDA has allowed eggs from Samoa for personal consumption but imports for commercial purposes are prohibited at this time.
Senator Satele Lilio said that they support his efforts to secure food supplies from Samoa, however, it must be done according to regulations.
Senator Utu Sila Poasa told the director that, as a military man, he’s well aware of why it’s important to follow federal regulations. He said the territory cannot afford to lose the support of federal agencies, like the USDA, if we violate federal rules.
