Demand makes
poi shortage possibleProducers say annual celebrations
coincide with lower harvests
Got poi?
The answer appears to be yes, at least for now.
But as demand increases because of graduation parties, baby luaus and long holiday weekends, taro supplies may run short, poi producers said.
Late May and early June is a peak demand period for poi. At the same time, taro harvests tend to be lower, resulting in what has become an annual seasonal shortage, said Eric Enomoto, treasurer for HPC Foods, Oahu's largest poi producer.
"The demand is going to start from now. So we'll see," said Charin Tomomitsu, sales and marketing director for HPC Foods. "We're hoping for the best."
Tomomitsu said this year's supply is much better than last year, when severe shortages caused the company to cut deliveries by 15 percent.
According to Department of Agriculture statistics, taro production dropped to a record low 5 million pounds last year, down 18 percent from 2002.
Rain is blamed for a continued decline in poi production in January and February this year. But production picked up in March, and the 1.2 million pounds of poi milled during the first quarter is about 4 percent higher than the same period last year.
HPC Foods delivers poi on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Because of the seasonal shortage, consumers may see some stores run out of poi between delivery dates, Enomoto said.
Poi prices however have not gone up, he said.
Charles Reppun, a Waiahole Valley taro grower, said it's hard for growers to match supply with demand.
"I don't know when there has not been a shortage at this time of year," he said.
The amount of land devoted to growing taro is limited and pests like the apple snail affect production, Reppun said.
Taro can take 11 to 14 months before it is ready to harvest. Bad weather can also reduce the quality and size of the crop.
"It (taro) likes a lot of sun," said John Aana of Makaweli Poi Mill on Kauai.
Rain can cause pocket rot fungus and leaf blight, he said.
"We had a lot of that this year," Aana said.
Still, he said supplies on Kauai seem to be holding up.
Enomoto said projects under way to plant taro on former sugar cane lands on Kauai could increase taro production. If the projects work out, he said, enough taro could come to market next year so there won't be an annual poi shortage.