Puna has young soil and too much rain. Nutrient loss is immediate and substantial. Crops for this specific condition must be developed and tested. There is no water that is certified for use, and essentially no local infrastructure, so crops must be harvested and shipped to central locations for processing (or can only be crops that require cooking before consuming to fit into the Food Safety Modernization act regulations).

Major hurdles in Puna must be overcome for it to be competitive as a food basket for the state. Water access in old soil areas in Kau and Kohala would be much more efficient growing areas for staple sources of nutritious calories by unit density. With Puna area supporting with diversity of dietary items.

Labels: moderation: safe