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Saipan runs out of betel nuts
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Posted on Apr 26 2006
If you are one of those who have been scouring island supermarkets and grocery stores since Monday for betel nut but failed to get any, you are not alone. Local betel nut chewers are frustrated to no end because Saipan has run out of betel nuts.
Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service agriculture consultant Isidoro Cabrera said the shortage is caused not so much by the bud rot disease that has killed hundreds of betel nut trees on the island but by a possible delay in the shipment of betel nuts from neighboring islands.
But not to worry, Cabrera said, as over 10,000 betel nuts are expected from Yap and same number from Pohnpei.
A sales lady from a supermarket in Koblerville confirmed this, saying that their stocks of the produce would be replenished today.
DEMAND GREATER THAN SUPPLY
Cabrera told the Saipan Tribune in a telephone interview yesterday afternoon that Saipan indeed has been suffering from a shortage of betel nuts and that stores have run out of betel nuts since Monday.
He said he visited at least 11 supermarkets yesterday and he couldn’t find any single bag of betel nut. He said he 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 betel nuts recently sold on Saipan are not from local farmers since the betel nut season doesn’t come until July.
Cabrera denied that the bud rot disease, which has infested several betel nut farms on Saipan, has anything to do with the shortage.
For more information about the betel nut shortage, contact Cabrera at 287-0571.
