African food online

Two Kenyan plant breeding students, Arthur Karugu and Felix Waweru, have a website ((According to a Nation article which seems to have disappeared.)) which “provides information on African foods, recipes, restaurants that sell them that and nutritional advice.” They are planning to develop it into an e-commerce platform for small farmers:

Farmers undergo many problems in marketing their products. They need a market link, and we are ready to facilitate that for them, says Waweru…

Best of luck to them. The website is called Try African Food, and it’s got a blog, a roundup of news etc. I’ve subscribed to their feed and will definitely keep and eye on it. Thanks to Kijo for the headsup.

New pandanus poster from Pohnpei

Dr Lois Englberger of the NGO Island Food Community of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia has just announced the release of a colorful new local food poster entitled “Pohnpei Pandanus:  Carotenoid-rich Varieties.” 

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Photographs and nutrient content of nine varieties of pandanus from Mwoakilloa Atoll and two varieties from Kapingamarangi Atoll are presented, along with the message that these carotenoid-rich foods can help protect against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, vitamin A deficiency and anemia or weak blood. 

The development of the poster started in 2003 with the collection of samples and arranging for analysis for provitamin A and other carotenoids, including beta-carotene, the most important of the provitamin A carotenoids.  Note that rice contains no carotenoids.

We hope that this poster may help to promote this neglected food crop, to raise awareness about the distinct varieties of pandanus and to increase understanding about the important health benefits that may be obtained by consuming this fruit.

Warm thanks are extended to the Pohnpei Cancer Coalition, Global Environmental Facility Small Grant Program, Sight and Life,  Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment, Australian Embassy, SPC GTZ Pacific German Regional Forestry Program, Pohnpei Agriculture, Pohnpei Departments of Health and Education, and the College of Micronesia-FSM for funding and other support, to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in Suva, Fiji, for assistance in getting the poster developed, printed and laminated, and to all those assisting in this project.