Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXVII, Number 36, 25 Malaki 1936 — CANNED POI IS NEXT ON LIST [ARTICLE]

CANNED POI IS NEXT ON LIST

Western Canner and Packer, widely read journal representing the canning industry, and published in San Francisco, describes in some detail in its February issue the new poi canning industry in Hawaii. The article says, in part: A complete canning plant for taro products, including ready-to-serve poi, the staple food of the Hawaiian people for untold centuries and still in widespread demand throughout the Territory, will be in operation in Honolulu within a short time.

This announcement, made recently by Herbert M. Dowsett, Honolulu financier and taro planter, has been received with considerable interest as it indicates the development of a new indnstry for the Territory. Associated with Mr. Dowsett are George Mellen, advertising specialist; John Mattson and Dr. Willis T. Pope, agriculturist.

Encouraged by results of experiments conducted since October, 1934, when it was proved by Mr. Mellen that taro products would keep in a can, Mr. Dowsett offered to back further experimental work to determine the kind of processing methods and equipment necessary for successful commercial canning. After reciting some of the details of research, experimenting, installaion of machinery, and the final O. K. from food chemists, the article quotes Mr. Dowsett, as follows: "My main object right now is to make fresh poi available to Hawaiians at a price they can afford. This, apparently, is being done as we have demand for more than we can make with the supply of taro now available."