WITH Christmas approaching, many island families like to cook traditional foods like “bunelus dagu, tamales gisu, etc. Grated mountain yams is what you need to make “bunelus dagu,” a traditional Christmas food in the CNMI.
Fresh mountain yam is available for sale at the public market in Garapan on Beach Road across from the Horiguchi Building. At the public market, you can find many local vegetables like mountain yam, kangkong (local watercress), and different varieties of lemons such as lemon paupau for sashimi.
Other vegetables offered at the public market include okra, taro, cucumbers, and pechay. The public market also sells frozen packets of tamales gisu, tamales tapioca, and the like. You just need to heat the frozen tamales. Freshly grated coconut is also available for cooking.
Local fruits include different varieties of bananas, guavas, and tangerines. Fresh young coconut juice is also available.
Other local treats include rosketi from Rota, fresh turmeric, anistukun (pickled little fishes), fresh turmeric, and hot peppers from Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Tuba is also available, an alcoholic local drink made from young coconuts.
Run by the CNMI Farmers Market Association, the public market is open every day except Sunday, said Leeroy Pangelinan, its manager. Monday through Friday the hours are 8 to 5. On Saturday the hours are 7 to 3.
Let’s support our local farmers and next time you need vegetables and/or fruits, check out the public market in Garapan.
