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Betel nut stocks now replenished
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Posted on Apr 27 2006
Betel nut chewers on Saipan were all smiles yesterday after some 20,000 betel nuts were delivered to island supermarkets and retail stores.
Isidoro Cabrera, agriculture consultant for the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service, confirmed the delivery of fresh betel nut stocks, three days after supplies of the product ran dry on Monday.
Cabrera said both betel nut providers from Yap and Pohnpei delivered the betel nut as promised early yesterday morning.
Cabrera said his family members who chew the fruit have never been happier to find betel nuts finally taking up their usual space at grocery stores. “They [chewers] are happy that they can find betel nut in the stores now,” he added.
Cabrera verified the availability of the product by visiting stores and supermarkets around the island early yesterday morning. He said he was glad to find bags of betel nuts available on the counters.
He reiterated that the shortage was caused by a delay in the shipment of betel nuts from the two neighboring islands.
Cabrera earlier told the Saipan Tribune that the shortage of betel nuts started on Monday this week. He said he visited at least 11 supermarkets and couldn’t find a single bag of betel nuts in retail stores. He said he had received several calls from people asking why there were no betel nut stocks in retail outlets.
Cabrera said the betel nut shipment comes in only once a week and a delay in the air shipment might’ve caused the supply shortage.
“The problem actually now is the demand in the CNMI is greater than the supply,” he added.
Cabrera explained that the betel nuts currently being sold on Saipan are not from local farmers since the betel nut season doesn’t come until July. Once Saipan starts producing betel nuts, he said the supply problems should ease up.
For more information about betel nuts, contact Cabrera at 287-0571.
