Get to Know a Breadfruit - AFARA

Afara is an unusual and attractive variety from French Polynesia. It is believed to have originated on the island of Raiatea and trees can also be found on the islands of Tahaa, Tahiti, and the Marquesas. The name means "lavender" referring to violet, pinkish or rusty-orange color of the skin. Afara is seedless and has a dense, starchy, white or creamy flesh. It is the most firm-textured variety in the NTBG breadfruit collection.

The trees at NTBG were collected on Tahaa and Tahiti islands and can be seen in the breadfruit groves at the McBryde Garden on Kauai and Kahanu Garden in Hana, Maui.


Detailed information about Afara is available at: http://ntbg.org/breadfruit/database/search/plant/18

Photo: Jim Wiseman

Posted in Variety Information on Thursday, January 3rd, 2013

Get to Know a Breadfruit - YELLOW

"Yellow" or "Yellow Heart." This well traveled breadfruit has been around the world. It was one of the Tahitian varieties collected by Captain Bligh and introduced to the Caribbean in 1793. From there it spread to Central and South America, to Africa and beyond along with a variety simply known as "White." "Yellow Heart" is especially esteemed in Jamaica.

The trees at NTBG came from the Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean and were sent as a gift by the Ministry of Agriculture in the late 1970s to add to the Garden`s nascent breadfruit collection. A majestic specimen is located near the Bamboo Bridge in the McBryde Garden on Kauai, and its twin can be found at Kahanu Garden in Hana, Maui.

Detailed information about "Yellow" variety is available at: http://ntbg.org/breadfruit/database/search/plant/103

Photo: Jim Wiseman

Posted in Variety Information on Thursday, January 3rd, 2013

Ma`afala Fact Sheet

Information about the Ma`afala variety including yields and production season in Hawaii and selected nutrients compared to the Hawaiian variety of breadfruit (`ulu), taro, white rice, and potatoes.

Download file: _Maafala_Handout_11_20_12.pdf

Posted in Variety Information on Thursday, January 3rd, 2013

Get to Know a Breadfruit - MA’AFALA

You`re going to hear a lot about this variety of breadfruit in the future. Ma`afala is a popular Samoan variety and is widely grown in Polynesia and some of the atolls of Micronesia. It has never been distributed outside of Oceania until recently.

The Institute has partnered with Global Breadfruit (www.globalbreadfruit.com) to produce plants in large quantities using in vitro propagation methods and will distribute this variety globally.

This productive tree has a more compact form than most varieties of breadfruit and the fruit contains good levels of protein and other important nutrients. It is delicious in traditional and contemporary dishes and can also be dried into nutritious gluten-free flour.

The original Ma`afala tree can be seen at Kahanu Garden in Hana, Maui and micro-propagated trees have been planted at NTBG Headquarters and the Horticulture & Conservation Center on Kauai.

http://ntbg.org/breadfruit/database/search/plant/42

Photo: Jim Wiseman

Posted in Variety Information on Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Breadfruit Variety Catalog

A catalog of over 100 breadfruit varieties with photographs and detailed descriptions is now available at http://ntbg.org/breadfruit/collection/

The entire catalog can be searched using a list of variety names, by geographical location, or by using a form (http://ntbg.org/breadfruit/database/search/) with options for species, variety name, geographic orgin, fruit weight, fruit shape, seed number, skin texture, and other parameters.

Posted in Variety Information on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Nutritional Composition of 20 Breadfruit Varieties

Twenty breadfruit varieties growing in the breadfruit collection at the National Tropical Botanical Garden were evaluated for sensory attributes and nutrient composition.

Download file: breadfruit_nutrients.pdf

Posted in Variety Information on Monday, July 20th, 2009