Locally Grown Foods Used in New Recipes

By Amy Levendusky

On Thursday, April 27, 2006, members of the Mand Community Working Group met to discuss the progress of the on-going project titled, "Pohnpeian Traditional Food For Health", sponsored by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei. This project is focusing on promoting the production and consumption of local foods in Mand. In order to help increase the production of local foods, training is given on the health values of local food, planting materials are distributed to interested community members, and instructions on planting are given. Trainings on healthy and delicious cooking using locally grown foods are also offered to interested community members to help increase their consumption of local foods on a daily basis.

A new recipe of fish soup mixed with green papaya was prepared by Maria Edward (see recipe box below). She used fresh tuna mixed with locally grown papaya and local spinach. Maria learned this recipe as a result of her participation in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) training provided by the College of Micronesia-FSM Cooperative Extension Service during March 2006. The training course focused on developing home gardens and how to use locally grown vegetables and other local foods in new, innovative and healthy recipes.

The IFCP thanks the Mand community and our collaborating partners and support agencies, including the Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs, Departments of Health and Education, Department of Land and Natural Resources, COM/FSM Land Grant, Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Centre of Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), New Zealand Embassy, Pacific German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP) and Sight and Life.