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On part of the 40-acre farm behind Kauai Community College, 64 breadfruit, or ulu, trees produce rich green fruit and teach important scientific lessons. This is “Ultopia”. A project launched in 2014 by Kauai CC and the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Breadfruit Research Institute to improve uru production.
Brian Yamamoto
“We found that breadfruit grows slowly but very well when fertilized,” said Brian Yamamoto, Kauai CC science professor and Ultopia project director. “In many places where breadfruit is grown, the trees are left to their own devices and are basically not cared for, but here, when you start fertilizing, you can almost double the production. You can.”
Over the years, Yamamoto estimates that hundreds of students have gained hands-on experience in cultivating uru, collecting scientific data and research. Natalie Blum, a botany student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who graduated from Kauai CC in 2019, compiled the data for the project while she was a student at the school.
Natalie Blum
“I think Ultopia is a really wonderful place,” Blum said. “It’s great for the students to help look after Brian’s farm, and in general, ulu is a very good crop to grow, it produces a lot of fruit and is very nutritious. …who I think everyone should have a tree in their garden.”
Market development
Ultopia has a multi-pronged strategy to increase both crop production and utilization. With a farm-to-table focus, Kauai CC’s culinary program and local chefs help develop and share recipes that promote ulu consumption. These include the mouth-watering ‘Ulutopia Bread Pudding’ and the locally styled ‘Ulu and Potato Salad’.
Assistant Professor Steven Nakata
“I think Ultopia is very important to our campus because it honors traditional food systems in a modern way,” said Kauai CC President Margaret Sanchez.
The Kauai Economic Development Commission awarded Ulutopia $50,000 for the production of Ulu-grown flour, with the goal of educating culinary students and the community on how to better utilize local produce and create local products. was awarded.
“We grow breadfruit here, and now chefs and a lot of people in the industry are turning it into a completely different product to enhance agriculture on Kauai,” Yamamoto said. “There is,” he said.
Kauai CC has purchased dehydrators and flour mills and plans to begin sharing these value-added products in 2025, moving toward a bright “Ultopia future.”
– Written by Kelly Abe Trifonovich
