‘Ulu is one of the world’s few perennial staple crops that grows on trees. With a decades-long lifespan and a high yield of hundreds of pounds of ‘ulu per tree, breadfruit is a vital crop for Hawai‘i’s food security and sustainability. These large, majestic trees help to sequester carbon and reduce the need to till soil or control weeds. Their heat and drought tolerance make them a favored orchard crop in tropical communities most vulnerable to famine and climate change. One tree can live for 100 years or more and produce hundreds, even over a thousand, pounds of fruit annually!
ʻUlu has always been vital in sustainable island food and Pacific agroforestry systems. Over the past 100 years, however, ʻulu and many of Hawai‘i’s other heritage crops have taken a back seat to imported, highly processed factory foods, negatively impacting our local economy and community health. With revived interest in indigenous rights and local, national, and global food systems in recent years, traditional Hawaiian crops are garnering attention and making a comeback.
