PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 3:39 PM by Luigi

Coconut delight on the highway

Fiji Times, August 08, 2006.

WHENEVER you are travelling to Ba and happen to be at Matawalu Village, about 20 kilometres from Lautoka, you should try the fresh green coconuts on sale by the roadside.
The person who sells them, Seini Batiuvi, will only be too eager to tell you how popular this highway delight is.

Mrs Batiuvi said the majority of her customers were locals, even though coconut trees can be found in most compounds in Fiji.

The 42-year-old mother of two stumbled onto the idea of selling green coconuts after she realised that just being responsible for the housework was not the only way to look after her family.

Selling green coconuts daily for the past two years, Mrs Batiuvi said her earnings supplemented her husband's salary from his work at Bekana Island Resort, located off the coast of Lautoka.
Mrs Batiuvi said that since she started selling coconuts she had enjoyed good sales to locals and tourists.

"A lot of people want to drink from green coconuts and as they drive towards Ba they usually stop," she said.

"Even though it might be growing in their compound, hardly anyone has the time to climb a coconut tree so that everyone in the family could enjoy the sweet juice and flesh," she said.

"So when they are driving along the road and see our stall, they stop and want to try it out."

"Some people do not like the flesh but they enjoy the juice. Every morning, I walk around our settlement buying coconuts for at least $4 to $5 per dozen. And almost daily we sell every coconut," said Mrs Batiuvi.

She sells the coconuts for $1 each.



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WHENEVER you are travelling to Ba and happen to be at Matawalu Village, about 20 kilometres from Lautoka, you should try the fresh green coconuts on sale by the roadside. The person who sells them, Seini Batiuvi, will only be too eager to tell you how popular this highway delight is. Mrs Batiuvi said the majority of her customers were locals, even though coconut trees can be found in most compounds in Fiji. The 42-year-old mother of two stumbled onto the idea of selling green coconuts after she realised that just being responsible for the housework was not the only way to look after her family. Selling green coconuts daily for the past two years, Mrs Batiuvi said her earnings supplemented her husband's salary from his work at Bekana Island Resort, located off the coast of Lautoka. Mrs Batiuvi said that since she started selling coconuts she had enjoyed good sales to locals and tourists. "A lot of people want to drink from green coconuts and as they drive towards Ba they usually stop," she said. "Even though it might be growing in their compound, hardly anyone has the time to climb a coconut tree so that everyone in the family could enjoy the sweet juice and flesh," she said. "So when they are driving along the road and see our stall, they stop and want to try it out." "Some people do not like the flesh but they enjoy the juice. Every morning, I walk around our settlement buying coconuts for at least $4 to $5 per dozen. And almost daily we sell every coconut," said Mrs Batiuvi. She sells the coconuts for $1 each. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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