Maui Farmer's Union - Breadfruit Talk

Evan Ryan gave a great talk on breadfruit last month at the Maui Farmer's Union.  The video below is pretty amateur and shaky, but the information is worthwhile. 

Some highlights from Evan's talk:

A single ulu (Hawaiian for breadfruit) tree can last decades and can produce 100-200 fruits/year up to 700/fruits a year (the right variety growing in the right environment).

An average ulu is 3-4 pounds or up to 13 pounds.

• Can eat it green, hard and starchy like a potato. Cook and season it like a potato.
• Can eat it soft and mushy, and it’s sweet and custardy.
• Can put it whole into a fire and roast it.

Kahanu Gardens has about 120 varieties. There used to be 300+ varieties in the world. No one really knows how many there were.

Varieties are incredibly different in texture, taste, etc.

To grow breadfruit, find a tree that you like, whose breadfruit that you’ve eaten.

The main way is to get a root cutting. Often at the base of a breadfruit, there is a little keiki tree. Can pot it and get its root established and then plant in the ground. Or get 6-8 inches of root and plant in a pot.

There are some nurseries Evan mentions in the video.  Evan says he doesn’t want to name specific varieties, because he wants to encourage diversity.

The East Maui Taro Festival also will have information by Kahanu Gardens.

To get fruit, 3-8 years from an air-layered or root cutting OR 10+ years from a tree grown by seed

Breadfruit is high in nutrients and can dig deep in the soil.  

Breadfruit is also used for construction materials: buildings, canoes.

Does well in an agroforestry environment, with other trees.

Not the same as a breadnut, which is full of seeds.

Each breadfruit is a result of 1500+ flowers. 


ALSO, the Farmer's Union is meeting again tomorrow night in Pukalani. Potluck is free if you bring a dish to share. Please bring plate and cutlery to minimize cleanup. 


Here's the agenda:

Tavares Center Pool Room -Pukalani
Tuesday April 24th 6-9pm
Doors open now at 5:30pm
Dinner now at 6:00 pm, meeting begins at 7pm sharp!
  
         LocaVore Potluck:  Come and share the Maui abundance of what you prepare and grow!!! Bring a dish OR Dinner is $5 for Members, $10 for Non Members. Sign up as a member and dinner is on us!

  Schedule:

6:00pm-7:00pm   LocaVore Potluck
6:50pm-7:00pm   Evening Announcements ~ Vincent Mina   
7:00pm-7:10pm   Chefs Corner ~ Jana McMahon-Kahanu Aina Greens 
                          
7:10pm-7:20pm   Farmers Almanac ~ Harriette Witt

7:20pm-7:30pm   Produce Scoop ~Ryan Eareheart-Mango Madness
7:30pm-8:00pm   Lehua Vanderville- MFU "You are the event"8:00pm-8:10pm   Bill Greenleaf-Annual meeting
8:10pm-8:30pm   Seth Raabe- Our experience culturing and using IMO
8:30pm- 9pm       Networking
  
 
Produce Swap: Lets make it abundant!!!
Bring your home grown farm/garden produce, seeds or plant starts to share and swap with others. Place it on the table in the back when you arrive.