Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger
Please consider donating your excess breadfruit to the project.The Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu project, led by Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network (HHFN) and the Breadfruit Institute (BFI) of the National Tropical Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the launch of Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger pilot project. This fall, as soon as the breadfruit is mature, the Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger pilot will begin harvesting breadfruit that is not being used and distributing it through social service agencies to Hawai'i Island families who are food insecure.
According to a HHFN survey, people who grow breadfruit reported that 46% is wasted. At the same time, since the economic downturn of 2008, many families are food insecure—lacking access to affordable and nutritious food. Breadfruit is a local, abundant and nutritious food that can be used to alleviate hunger in Hawai'i.
The Hawaii Homegrown Food Network is looking for a select number of landowners with excess breadfruit to donate to the Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger project. Landowners will receive gift certificates to dine at local restaurants that are serving breadfruit and other local foods.
Smart, kind, friendly, and skilled breadfruit picking team.In order to help develop the market for breadfruit, the project will study the viability of breadfruit as a replacement for imported starches and compare it to other local and imported carbohydrate staples based on price and nutritional value delivered. The project will work with chefs to identify and address the barriers to breadfruit being more commonly utilized in restaurants.
The Breadfruit Harvest for Hunger project is an initiative of Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu--a project to revitalize 'ulu (breadfruit) as an attractive, delicious, nutritious, abundant, affordable, and culturally appropriate food which addresses Hawai'i's food security issues. This pilot project is funded through a grant from the Omidyar 'Ohana Fund of the Hawai'i Community Foundation.
For more information or to donate breadfruit from your trees, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Craig Elevitch at 808-756-9437.
Andrea Dean, MBA, of Sustainable Initiatives works with communities, businesses and non-profits on initiatives that enhance island economy, environment and community. Andrea is also the Special Projects Coordinator for the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network, and is co-coordinator of the Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu--Revitalizing Breadfruit program.