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Agriculture hosting Flag Day Food And Farm Fair

Agriculture director Solialealofiotagaloa I.T. Mutini
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Agriculture Department is hosting next week the 2021 Annual Flag Day Food and Farm Fair and is seeking support from the business community.

Agriculture director Solialealofiotagaloa I.T. Mutini, sent out a solicitation letter to the private sector saying that DoH will host the annual event on Apr. 14 to Apr. 17 - (Wednesday through Sunday) at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“Despite the pandemic, American Samoa farmers have expressed their willingness to support and continue to participate” in the fair, said Mutini, who noted that the business community has been a valued partner of the farming community for many years.

During the fair, he said farmers will display locally grown produce such as taro, ufi (or yam), ta’amu (or giant taro), banana, vegetables, fruits, sweet potatoes, homemade floral arrangements, potted plants, and other crops and livestock.

“Various delicious traditional Samoan cooked food, other food dishes and recipes will be on display,” he said and noted that DoA, is seeking assistance in the form of monetary donations, gift certificates, tools, equipment, and/ or sponsorship of awards and prizes for the different categories.

“A farmer's main goal is to produce a good crop and/or healthy animals in order to make a living and to feed the population. Without food, the world would slowly die, and farmers work hard every day to keep plenty of crops and animal products in the market to keep that from happening,” said Mutini in a message posted this week on the DoA Facebook page.

During a Samoa News visit yesterday morning to the Fagatogo Market Place one farmer says she and her husband are looking forward to the fair next week to showcase not only their agricultural products but also delicious Samoan cooked food.

The couple showcased similar products during the mini farm fair held late last month at the Fagatogo Market Place.

A male farmer said the farm fair is a great way of displaying the many agricultural products grown on his land in the Tualauta county. “It’s good that we have this opportunity to display and sell our products,” he said.

SCALED DOWN FLAG DAY

A recent news release from the Governor’s Office states that this year’s Flag Day celebration will be a scaled down event, marking 121 years since American Samoa became a US territory.

And the Office of Samoan Affairs, which oversees Flag Day celebrations, has recommended a “celebration within policy constraints”, due to COVID-19 restrictions and repatriation efforts.

The governor is expected to issue in the coming days the official date of Flag Day observance and holiday since Apr. 17th this year, falls on a Saturday.

Because of the pandemic and other COVID-19 restrictions, last year’s celebration was also a very scaled down event with the raising of the Flag ceremony at the Fagatogo Pavilion.