Palau Chamber of Commerce to market local produce

The Palau Chamber of Commerce has set up a committee to assist local producers of farm foods, aquaculture and fisheries in selling their produce..."The main aim of this committee which is set up within the private sector is to help develop the three main sectors," said PCOC Executive Director Tmetuchl Baules. He said the committee's first priority is to focus on agriculture and to strengthen farmers' productivity level and finding markets for them. "At present farmers cannot export huge volumes because most of these produce cannot meet the standard demand. Therefore the chamber will assist them in finding local markers for local consumption." He said most of these farmers find it a challenge to supply to local markets because they are more expensive then imported products. (Island Times, October 28, 2008)

Comments

[olekyang]

this one is a good idea. please don't feel that we can make local farmers believe in exporting! not just yet! let them profit in a smaller establishment before throwing them into a big one!

although maybe betelnut can be exported. $4 million annually spent on betelnut in Palau alone in 1996... i wonder what is the range now...

worth looking into exporting betelnut to other places...

[SayWhat]

You can make some serious money exporting betelnut to Hawaii, California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Washington, and now Iowa!

In Hawaii, the tet is $5.00 per bag of fresh buuch. Only 4 to 5 nuts in a bag with just about the same number of kebui, and it still sells!

Imagine if you can export 100 ziplock bags of betelnut to each of the above States and sold each bag for $5.00 each? For all your trouble for 100 bags to each of the 8 States, you'd make an easy $4,000. And if you could rake in $4,000 each month for a whole year, you'd make $48,000 tax free. Of course, shipping and handling is involved, but you'd still make some money.

Too bad you can't bring betelnut past the customs in Honolulu. They confiscate -- something about a bug in the betelnut peel.

And too bad we can't be like Amsterdam -- I wonder how much profit our Government could make if we legalized canabis? Guarantee more tourists would flock to our shores. A plus side is that they would be nice tourists -- easy going and mellow and probably spend more money in the stores buying munchies. Please don't persecute me for that idea...it was just me thinking out loud.

[Mosisecheklak]

I really like that idea..Saywhat

Yap cornered the market in Guam and Saipan. They make thousands of dollars every week from a well organized and consistant betelnut exportation to these islands. I have always wondered why not Palau? We always say no money, but we sit on a gold mine of betelnuts.

Mesulang,

Mesulang,

[SayWhat]

You know what else we can export?

Taro, and breadfruit.

I have many friends from Samoa who drive to San Francisco to buy taro at this grocery store-- I heard it's like $8.00 per lb. I’ve been there once but that was long time ago.

And yes, MOSI we do sit on a gold mine!

But sometimes, we forget because we're too busy trying to be like the big industrial countries. It’s obvious that we’re trying to play hard ball with the big boys! We just don’t have what it takes YET. And truth is, we don't have the population to do it like they do.

We should make due with what we have in order to sustain our economy and our environment. Ain’t that how it’s been done since the first Palauans? We can definitely profit from what we already have growing on our island. Heck, we used to “sell” money – balang to the Yapese! That’s like selling ice cubes to Eskimos!

And you know what? If one person on Palau can profit from noni, why can't my family profit from exporting taro or bread fruit?

Can’t our government work something out with the U.S Food and Drug Administration and help us export? Or just our next door neighbors – Australia, Taiwan, and Japan? You know, instead of asking for money all the time (like spoiled brats), we should ask them to help us build a farming based economy. And then, ask them to help us export!

We could definitely export “EXOTIC” fruits, flowers, plants, and nuts – I mean, does any one remember keiam (spellcheck)? Or we could export Palauan ginger? How about miich and ongor? You know what I mean?! We can definitely sell fresh produce to people living on Guam.

I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but if our government could get the policies going and a clearance to export produce to the other islands or countries, that would be a start for something big.

When the farmers begin making money from their produce, more money will be circulating in Palau and minimum wage can increase and eventually our government will not have to depend on loans and grants.

I know – wishful thinking, but isn’t that how good things start?

[olekyang]

it's great wishful thinking though... but let the locals start local first and then expand later. as for betelnut, i think we can possibly have a hand in it as an export... it's up to our government to spearhead it! ("hint hint") but with the breadfruit and taro... that's a great idea too! the taro chips that hawaii makes is a hit! even taro bread! why can't we make those locally as well?

[SayWhat]

Olekyang, you can make taro, breadfruit, sweet potato, and tapioca chips LOCALLY!

There are a few mechas who can make some really good breadfruit chips (salty and sweet)! And, instead of buying Doritos or that little peanut guy in a can, the bar flies can ‘ou-jesa’ on snacks purchased from the various makit in Palau.

Locally made snacks are fresh. Each piece would not contain preservatives/additives (a healthy alternative), and you'd be contributing to your LOCAL economy! The money spent at one makit will circulate back to you.

As for breads, there are many Palauan women who make some of the best breads. Some of the best whole wheat, banana, and taro breads that I have had the pleasure of savoring were made in Palau by Palauans!

Various restaurants and resorts/hotels on the island should consider buying breads AND pastries from local vendors. It should be less costly for the hotel industry because they would not have to pay for the cost of importing from other countries. Not to mention, it would help build a stronger relationship between the community and the tourism industry.

Someone can even make a good profit marketing miich. You know, Palauan "peanut" brittle made with miich can become a popular export item. And instead of macadamia nuts being popular, miich could be the next best chocolate covered snack! One day, you could probably find miich snacks being sold at PPR or PRR gift shops.

Again, more wishful thinking,but it can really happen if we support our local markets.

[Mechuu]

There are several hotels/resorts who buys taro/sweet potato bread from local vendors as we speak. In fact, Sandy Adachi is one of them. I myself have had the pleasure tasting/sampling the goodies @ one of the restaurant in Malakal.

[SayWhat]

Now that's awesome Mechuu! I too have had the pleasure of having some of that taro bread from Joe's. Again, everyone, it's very important that we support our locally owned, and managed bars, and restaurants. Not only will you be supporting the restaurant, but you'll also be assisting the makit from local vendors being offered at that establishment. The money you spend there will circulate in Palau. Eventually we'll be able to raise the minimum wage without going broke!

[olekyang]

there are some great culinary foodstuffs found at the belau museum gift shop as well.

palau should do a public symposium on culinary arts/local produce and see what they can get out of marketing. why haven't our politicians thought of these? i wonder? too many them are asking for grants when they have to starting phasing these types of ideas into the ecomomic sector...

i hope they're reading these blogs!