Hawaii taro farmers request $750 million bailout

WAILUKU -- Representatives of Hawaii’s taro industry submitted a formal request for financial assistance to congress this week, claiming the global economic downturn has significantly impacted Hawaii’s demand for their crop.

According to Warren Tanaka, spokesperson for the Hawaii Taro Growers Association, revenue and loi across the state will dry up in a matter of weeks without the financial infusion.

“While it’s true taro production has seen a steady decline for the past 50 years and demand for poi is at an all-time low, we feel our woes can all be attributed to the current global economic climate,” said Tanaka. “This assistance will give us the opportunity to update our equipment, streamline our processing procedures, and buy each and every taro farmer in the state their own Gulfstream G250."

Tanaka added that the industry would consider a lesser bailout package however, if passed, sacrifices would have to be made, and state taro farmers might have to settle for a new car, tough that car would most certainly be foreign made.

The majority of the assistance would go to farmers on Kauai, the island responsible for the bulk of the state’s taro production, but anyone in the state with at least a single taro plant growing on their properties.

In a related story, the number of single-plant taro sales hit a record high this week. More to come.
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