American Samoa eyed as gateway for Samoa export to US

American Samoa's Director of Agriculture Filifaatali Mike Fuiava says there are opportunities for Samoan food items to be exported to the United States via American Samoa.

Filifaatali recently accompanied Samoan officials from the Western United States Agriculture Trade Association on visits to large commercial plantations on Upolu and to the Fugalei market.

He said American Samoa's quota free status for exports to the US offered opportunities for crops like taro from Samoa to be sent to the US, using Pago Pago as a gateway.

He also said American Samoa didn't have the land resources of Samoa to grow the quantity of taro that would make such a venture commercially viable.

"The only way we can take advantage of the US market and the demand for taro from not just Samoans but other pacific islanders in America, is to go into joint ventures with Samoa exporters," he said.

Samoa currently exports vacuum packed sliced uncooked taro to the US but not whole taro.

Filifaatali hopes to have discussions with his counterparts in Samoa about the opportunities in the near future.