Dear Breadfruit,
I have never doubted you.
Love,
Me
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| Breadfruit Progressive Portrait |
A D.I.G blog post on breadfruit has been published. However, I am compelled to review the subject since coming across an increased number of online articles on breadfruit. Has it been my own lack of attention or is that breadfruit has under renewed (or new) attention?
- +GOOD Article: In providing a background to an article on a donation to the breadfruit cause, the Caribbean gets mentioned! The piece provides a historical background of breadfruit in the Caribbean:"When the sailors on the HMS Bounty mutinied in 1789, they were on a royal mission to procure breadfruit samples to cultivate a new food source for Caribbean plantation slaves". This context has long been used as an explanation into why the food is unpopular with many: "It’s just not that tasty. Slaves in the Caribbean refused to eat the fruit when it arrived in the late 18th century, and it took generations before breadfruit cuisine took hold in the region."The article describes the changing environment which has led to an increase of supporters on the breadfruit bandwagon.
- National Geographic Article: Could not agree more with Diane Ragone, Director of the Breadfruit Institute in her introduction to why breadfruit is a crop for food and nutrition security: "Well it is here and it has been here for a long time". Innovation does not have to be the next new thing; but to create solutions from existing resources.
- Huffington Post Article: The article describes breadfruit as "a new superfood".This is not the blog post to debate the term "superfood". The nutritional value of the crop is however undisputed-breadfruit is a source of carbohydrates (dietary fibre), fats and potassium and calcium.
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| A beautiful day for breadfruit |
Beyond dining table conversations, breadfruit is now the subject of round table discussions. An International Breadfruit Conference is scheduled to take place at the University of the West Indies -St. Augustine Campus on July 5-10, 2015. The theme of the conference will be "Commercializing Breadfruit for Food and Nutrition Security". Sub-themes include:
- Historical perspectives/agricultural policies
- Germplasm collection, conservation, evaluation, distribution
- Propagation
- Post-harvest technology
- Economics, supply chain and value-chain analysis
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| Breadfruit root stock in propagation bins |
While we count down the days to next year's conference, the Jamaican government aims to plant approximately 5000 breadfruit trees over the next six months as part of the project named "Trees That Feed Schools". Apart from the nutritional value, breadfruit requires minimal crop maintenance. The project's objectives are:
- Food and Nutrition Security, particularly for the benefit of youth in the school feeding programme.
- Reafforestation
More information can be sourced from online article.
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| Breadfruit plants in potting bags for sale at Barthe Propagation Station, Soufriere, Saint Lucia |
You may also want to check out Facebook Pages dedicated to the promotion of breadfruit for food security and/or reafforestation:
- Global Breadfruit: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalBreadfruit
- Breadfruit Institute: https://www.facebook.com/BreadfruitInstitute
If you are not already the proud owner of the globally celebrated breadfruit, start today. For added encouragement, this breadfruit recipe is sure to convert you to a breadfruit believer.
