A Samoan company selling gluten free breadfruit flour and raw fermented coconut oil is hoping it can become a staple in New Zealand's high-end organic market.
The company, Maiden South Pacific, recently introduced its handmade organic products to a number of New Zealand retailers.
One of its Samoan directors, Kalala Mary Autagavaia, says they are working with farmers and families in Samoa, through their village matai, to utilise land sustainably.
She says its about how they can use what the land produces, but doing so in a way that doesn't destroy it.
"If you walk through some of our plantations in the Pacific, there's food galore, there's breadfruit hanging off the trees, there's papaya, there's coconuts, but how do we take care of that and be good guardians of that land. I guess it's all those sorts of things that make our products special. We're not just going in to make a profit out of people, it's about working with the people, for the future."
Kalala Mary Autagavaia says there are also plans to collaborate with the Wellington Chocolate Factory to produce a 'Samoa Bar', made with koko Samoa beans.
Two of the Directors of Maiden South Pacific, Kalala Mary Autagavaia (L) and Tiana Epati holding their organic coconut oil and breadfruit flour products. Photo: RNZ
