Banaban Voice

News and information service for Banaban Network Worldwide!

The world's growing demand for Coconut Sugar and other by products

With the world focus now on Virgin Coconut Oil and Banaban Women's efforts on Rabi to get a commerical venture up and running I would also like to remind all Banabans that you also have one of the greatest cultural assets already within your grasp - Ka maimai

Ka maimai mainly in crystalize sugar form is now in huge demand. I hope to launch a range of TRADITIONAL coconut related food products in the future naturally sweetened with Ka maimai and made from local island fruits and coconuts of course. The potential is unlimited and these are products that your ancestors have made for centuries.

The rest of the world is finally finding out just how good these traditional foods are, and how healthy they are for you.

Let's hope the VCO is just the start of many traditional food style products and that many of the traditional skills of toddy cutting can be regenerated by the younger generations of Banaban farmers.

Exciting times ahead!

Views: 1139

Comment

You need to be a member of Banaban Voice to add comments!

Join Banaban Voice

Comment by Takesau Tabore on March 2, 2011 at 9:22pm
Thanks Aunty Stacey, I would do my best to get in touch with those who can help facilitate this trade from this end and then inform you of any developments. Regards to uncle Ken and everyone at your home. Ko bati n raba ao tia boo moa.
Comment by Stacey King on March 2, 2011 at 6:35pm

Also please note Takesau that wooden pallets must be EXPORT  grade (Stamped) and fumigated to pass Australian Quarantine our end.

Ko raba Stacey

Comment by Stacey King on March 2, 2011 at 5:24pm

Shipping of container loads to Australia the last time we sent to Kiribati from Australia a few years back was more than AUD5,500 per 20 FCL. Very high rate compared to Fiji-Aust shipping. My main concern for Australian market is quality and we would need to ensure standard for Kamaimai importation. To import Kamaimai I would have to submit Processing Chart (or SOP) and Certificate of Analysis (CoA) of product to AQIS. I already have this standard from Philippines made product but would need one for Kiribati made product.

Also what conatiners would they be using. Philippines is using brand new 20L or 25L food grade plastic containers (See photo).

I can image packaging could be a problem with Kiribati . What we do with the VCO is import in 200L food grade foil bladders in carboard export outers. The bladders are imported into Fiji from NZ and the carboard outers are made in Fiji. Fiji is very limited with food grade packaging at this stage. Second hand drums are not acceptable into Australia and packaging has to be new not recycled. I've attached a photo to show you our 200L totes. There are smaller bladders that are available in Australia and these would probably be much more viable for Kiribati  or future Rabi operation.

All food importation into Australia will come under AQIS and food under their FOOD CONTROL division. Politics doesn't come into it only the strict quarrantine and food import regulations.

Any idea on export pricing on kamaimai from Kiribati based on 20L size? We can compare with current Philippine market to see if comparable.

Has anyone done a quote for McDonalds in Suva yet?  McDonalds will be very price driven... so will have to be good pricing for them. They will most definitely need food CoA and nutritional panel to legally be able to sell this product in their restaurant? Need to get these things in place to make sure Kiribati import is viable first.

Regards Stacey

 

Comment by Takesau Tabore on March 2, 2011 at 4:24pm

Thanks for the info aunty Stacey. We have no problems with shipping with the LINE and PHOENIX  islands of the kiribati group as our first  ship charter was a great success and we have the backing of both the Kiribati and Fiji govts. to import copra for a start.   As for the exchange-rate disparity there is no problem as we have established links with the business fraternity where we actually made huge profits in terms of exports thus making it very viable to trade. The only problem I can forsee is the quarantine and inspection part that you correctly stated. Between the Fiji and Kiribati govts. there is no problem as we have actually sat with both parties that included agriculture and quarantine officers who have pledged their support to speed up any hiccups(i.e. for the copra trade only) whicch we hope can extend to KAMAIMAI also. What I'm more interested in is how fast can this be done between the Aussie and Fiji govt in light of the existing political climate?

Comment by Stacey King on March 2, 2011 at 3:33pm

Mauri Takesau,

 Kiribati has great ka maimai but the problem we have here in Australia, and you will face in Fiji especially is the very expensive shipping rates between Kiribati and Australia and the fact Kiribati uses Australian dollar. Australian dollar is so high at the moment - over US dollar parity that Fiji would never be able to afford it. Your FJD conversion is about FJD1.80 to AUD 1.00 at the moment. So with shipping on top Fiji would have to pay double for the kamaimai.  So Australia dollar is really putting Kiribati at a disadvantage to export. This is where we also need that direct Rabi - Tarawa shipping link to help assist both communities.

I believe we also need to work on setting up a commercial kitchen on Rabi that can be run properly to proper food standards where Banaban women can make the Kamaimai to a SOP (standard operating procedure) and the men can get a good regular income on the toddy making side of the business.

It is important even with the local Women’s VCO to set up proper production FOOD standards and operating procedures that will enable our women’s group to supply at a commercial level. If this can be done at local level the opportunities are endless. Here in Australia we have very stringent food codes we must comply with. Our VCO is also tested by AQIS (Australian Quarantine Inspection Service) at a registered food lab just for entry into Australia and to be sold as a food.

The key is a proper set up commercial kitchen with well managed SOP and Health & Safety regulations in place. The aim is that each batch of kamaimai or VCO will come out exactly the same every batch rather than small batches made all over the island at different locations under different conditions. As you know for example with kamaimai if you overheat it can go black and burn whereas you don’t heat it correctly the syrup ferments and sours so the correct temperature standard is imperative. The last thing when manufacturing food products is complaints from customers. Here in Australia you can be held legally liable if anyone gets sick and our company and all other food companies here carry product liability insurance. Once we have a standardized SOP set up than we need to get the product tested and analysed at the food laboratory as this is required by law for Nutritional panels on packaging and to sell food products in bulk.

Terikano is heading in the right direction trying to get a proper facility set up on Rabi where this can be done and properly managed. Each step at a time, but all very do-able - Exciting times ahead!

Comment by Takesau Tabore on March 2, 2011 at 2:09pm
Aunty Stacey, Thanks for reminding us of te-kamaimai. In actual fact there were orders made by the giant fast-food MacDonalds for kamaimai but folks in Rabi could not meet the demand. I'm looking at the viability of importing from Kiritimati which at present could meet the demand and maybe export some to you. What do you think? Thanks anyway!

Forum

Visiting Rabi and Ocean Island

Started by brian russell in Banaban Issues. Last reply by Stacey King Apr 16, 2020. 7 Replies

Homecoming to Banaba

Started by Christina Maree Buchanan in Banaban Issues Jun 27, 2019. 0 Replies

Slides of Banaba from the 1960's

Started by Dominic Kaukas in Banaban Issues. Last reply by Stacey King Jun 13, 2019. 1 Reply

Events

HELP RABI WOMEN IN FIJI

Help Rabi Women's Organisation in Fiji by purchasing RABI HANDMADE VIRGIN COCONUT OIL locally in Suva, Fiji

Contact

Terikano

for more details

Badge

Loading…

Radio Links

Bwanan Rabi Radio

(10pm Fiji Time 1&2nd Monday each month)

Live Broadcast

© 2024   Created by Stacey King.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service