Leaf Blight Tolerant Taro Varieties: Promoting Grower Adoption and Food Processor Acceptance

The statewide team of project investigators conducted various educational workshops, field demonstrations, and applied research projects, often in collaboration with CTAHR Researchers, Extension Specialists, Extension Agents, support staff and volunteers, and with industry cooperators. Through these activities, 434 growers and gardeners were made aware of the disease tolerant taro varieties. A total of 100 of these growers were interested, obtained starter planting material, and actually planted the blight tolerant taro varieties at their own farms for evaluation. The investigators also worked with local taro industry stakeholders such as commercial taro processors to assess and promote the blight resistant taro varieties for various uses such as table taro, chipping, luau (taro leaf), and poi. Through project activties with commercial taro processors, project investigators contacted 10 taro processing firms around the state.