of the South Pacific in Western Samoa to deveicp and test cultivars for year
round production.
Nutrient value: Protein - 1.3%, Fat - 0.5%, CHO -20.1%, Fibre - 1.8%
Pandanus
The fleshy base of the fruit is eaten.
baked into thin flat cakes.
It is often mixed with coconut and
It can be powdered and stored if kept dry.
powder can also be mixed with coconut sap and used as a drink.
The
Pandanus are also
seasonal.
Nutrient value: Protein - 0.4%, Fat - 0.3%, CHO - 19%, Fibre - 0.3%
Rice
Rice has become an important food for most people in the Marshall Islands.
The rice is all imported, with the U.S. being the major if not only source.
Rice
is purchased in 80-100 lbs. sacks and stored for several months since visits by
ship are often infrequent to the outer islands.
Money to purchase rice is the
number one use of cash in the islands.
Nutrient value:
Protein - 7%, Fat - 0.5%, CHO - 80%, Fiber - 0.2%
Fish
Most of the fish eaten is caught in local waters by net or spear on the reefs.
Some small scale commercial fishing for local consumption is practiced.
imported fish is commonly eaten in the population centers.
Canned,
All kinds of fish are
eaten and in many cases the entire fish, including entrails, is eaten.
Fish are
eaten whenever they are available but no local preservation is common.
Nutrient value:
Since most reported data for fish only include the flesh and
muscle, the data would not reflect the intake which includes the other portions
of the fish.
Bananas
Bananas are grown in the areas that have adequate rainfall.
This means that
the four northern atolls in particular don't use bananas for food.
In the wetter
regions they are generally found wild or with casual cultivation.
Bananas are
usually harvested throughout the year.
Nutrient value: Protein - 1.2%, Fat - 0.3%, CHO - 27.0%, Fibre - 0.5%, Good
vitamin A, Fair vitamin C, Poor vitamin B, High in Potassium
Papayas
Like bananas, papayas are grown where there is adequate rainfall.
available throughout the year and no preservation is practiced.
Fruit is
The Government
Agriculture Research Station in Laura, Majuro is beginning to work with papayas
and increased variety testing should make papayas more plentiful.
Nutrient value: Sugar - 10%, Protein - 0.5%, Fat - 0.1%, Fibre - 0.7%
Important source of Vitamins A and C