The process of adding value to many of local farm products should result in new business opportunities, according to NMC-CREES food scientist Jang Ho Kim.
NMC-CREES, Kim said, has already come up with a number of value-added agricultural products that can be sold by local stores.
However, he added, the available means limit the processing of these food items to household scale only.
NMC-CREES develops, among other things, food processing technologies that can help members of the community become more productive citizens.
The most important aspect of about food processing is safety and sanitation, Kim said.
There are many types of vegetables and fruits on Saipan that can be developed into commercial and exportable products, Kim said.
Early this month, Kim, NMC-CREES director Ross Manglona, agriculturist Isidoro Cabrera and plant pathologist Dilip Nandwani went to South Korea to visit its processing facilities for value-added agriculture products.
Kim said they looked at the farm products that the CNMI can also produce and process.
These include wine, fruit juice and jams.
He said during their visit from May 11 to 16, they were also able to establish ties with their Korean counterparts.
“The technology there is not cutting-edge but our Korean friends will help upgrade what we have here,” Kim said.
