Festival Tree Sales 2012

“Regarding food, if a man plants 10 (breadfruit) trees in his life he would completely fulfill his duty to his own as well as future generations…” Sir Joseph Banks, 1769

Breadfruit Festival 2011 participants purchased 300 breadfruit trees.

Nearly 300 trees were purchased at Breadfruit Festival 2011 on September 24, 2011. This year we will again be selling breadfruit trees propagated by our festival partner Kua O Ka La Public Charter School. Your purchase helps support Kua O Ka La's educational programs as well as the Breadfruit Festival.

Planting breadfruit trees will:

• Increase your ability to feed your family and community by providing abundant breadfruit year after year for decades.
• Help restore this beautiful plant in Hawaiian landscapes, beautifying Hawai'i today and for future generations.

'Ma'afala' variety

'Ma'afala' is a favorite fruit for it's nutty flavor and firm texture. Tissue-cultured trees can produce fruit in a mere 3 years.

These trees are multiplied through tissue-culture, giving fast-growing, healthy, well-branched trees that can begin bearing fruit within 3 years. 'Ma'afala' trees tend to be shorter and more compact than other varieties. The small fruits (about 2-3 lb) are convenient for a family-size meal. The white flesh is solid and dense and has a firm texture when cooked. The fruiting season has been up to 9 months in some locations in Hawai'i. As an indication of the commercial potential of 'Ma'afala', the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture began exporting fresh fruit to New Zealand in 2003. [Breadfruit.org reference]

'Hawaiian' variety ('ulu)

We will also be selling several varieties of banana. These will sold at the festival on a first-come, first served basis for some varieties and by silent auction (1:00 pm auction closing) for other varieties. These bare-root banana keiki will need to be planted immediately in the ground or in large pots for later outplanting.From trees descending from the ancient Hawaiian kalu 'ulu (traditional Kona breadfruit region), these trees are propagated by the expert staff at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden (Breadfruit Festival location). The white flesh is dense and has a firm texture when cooked. It can be used in many dishes including 'ulu salad, baked 'ulu with coconut milk, and curries. This variety is easily made into 'ulu poi. It has good potential for commercial processing of chips and other products. [Breadfruit.org reference] Some trees of this variety will be for sale at the festival (purchase directly from the Garden at the visitor center).

Purchase trees

This year we have large 'Ma'afala' breadfruit trees in 2 gallon pots available at the festival. Pre-sales of trees for pick-up at the festival are now closed. Trees will be available for purchase at the festival on a first-come, first served basis.

'Ma'afala' trees that are ready for outplanting are available for pre-purchase now for pick up at the festival. You can also purchase trees at the festival on a first-come, first served basis.