During FY06, PEP-Pacific completed a five stage project for the Fiji based Nature’s Way Cooperative Fiji Limited aimed at improving the export marketability of tropical tree crops from Fiji to New Zealand, which has a large Pacific community and a ready market for the island staple.
The project looked at optimum breadfruit harvesting time leading to improved shelf-life and eating quality, harvesting methods with a view to minimizing damage to the fruit, post-harvest handling including cooling and export packaging.
The final stage of the project saw the production of an easy to read manual covering the harvesting, storage and transport of breadfruit plus associated breadfruit export standards. The manual, which was launched during a Breadfruit Industry Conference in Fiji, was distributed along with educational posters to growers, harvesters and packaging groups throughout the country.
