Food Chain Radio Show #1038

Michael Olson, Author & Urban Farming Agriculturalist

Mangoes! From Haiti?

This Poll is closed!!

Would you buy mangoes grown in Haiti?

No. Mangoes grown in Haiti would not be good.

Yes. Mangoes grown in Haiti would be delicious.

*

15%

84%

Guests: Matt Rogers of Whole Foods;  John Musser of Tropic Trade;  Hannah Freeman of Fair Trade USA

Have you tasted a Francique mangoes from Haiti?

Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid have been sent to help Haiti, but that money does not seem to help. In fact, all the money seems to simply disappear, like virga under a warming tropical sun.

Michael Olson Food Chain Radio: Haitian Mangoes – Guests Matt Rogers of Whole Foods, John Musser of Tropic Trade, Hannah Freeman of Fair Trade USA

For example, a federal audit of the $1.14 billion the U.S. Congress approved to help Haiti recover from an earthquake was found to have been sent to Haiti with “virtually no accountability.” In other words, the money simply disappeared, like virga under a warming tropical sun.

But then someone remembered that ages old admonition: Give me a fish and I will eat today. Teach me to fish and I will eat always.

And with that admonition in mind, realized that Haiti, and Haitians, could be taught to produce something someone would want to buy. And so they worked with the Haitian people to plant mangoes– very special mangoes– to feed people hungry for a delicious,unique taste in the metropolitan markets of the world.

And so we ask…

Click to leave a comment: Have you tasted a Francique mango from Haiti?

Tune in here, for the syndicated Food Chain Radio Show #1038 December 12, 2015 Saturday 9AM Pacific