A traditional staple in Hawaii, breadfruit is sometimes called the tree potato, for its potatolike consistency when cooked. Except breadfruit has higher-quality protein and packs a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals.
That's why ethnobotanist Diane Ragone has spent years trying to cultivate this nutrient-rich staple for poorer, tropical parts of the world, where the majority of the world's hungriest people live.
Breadfruit offers several advantages over other staples, says Ragone. The fast-growing perennial trees require far less labor, fertilizer and pesticides than crops like rice and wheat. They're also more productive. A single tree yields an average of 250 fruits a year and can feed a family for generations.
If mass produced, breadfruit could provide a steady source of nutritious food for farmers and their families, and supplement their incomes.
That's already starting to happen. Farmers in countries like Samoa, Haiti and Nigeria are already growing some of the varieties developed by Ragone's team.
