Overview:
A Taiwan-supported farm in Koror is helping reshape how Palauan children see food — by getting their hands dirty in the fields. Through school visits, family recipe activities and partnerships supplying fresh produce to local elementary schools, the farm is encouraging students to embrace vegetables while supporting national efforts to boost local food production and reduce reliance on imported processed foods.
Hands-on harvests, nutrition lessons and school partnerships encourage healthier diets and stronger food security.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau — “When kids actually step into the fields and see how vegetables grow, it changes their perspective,” said Elena, manager of a Taiwan-run farm driving Palau’s fight against imported junk food. Her operation is turning elementary schoolers into veggie fans, one muddy boot at a time.
The farm plays a key role in local food security. “We work closely with the Bureau of Agriculture to provide gardening training and extension services,” Elena said. “Our goal is to boost local fruit and vegetable production. By hosting educational visits like this, we help both parents and children understand where their food comes from. This encourages people to eat more fresh produce and rely less on imported processed foods, which is key to Palau’s food security.”
Family visits feature “collaborative recipe creation” activities. “It makes them more curious and excited about healthy food,” Elena added. “When families visit the farm together, we specially arrange a ‘collaborative recipe creation’ activity. The goal is to get parents and children thinking together about how to integrate fresh produce into their daily meals. This improves children’s affinity for vegetables, helping them achieve a more balanced diet and better nutritional intake.”
School ties deepen the push. With Shin Kong Hospital support, the farm provides fresh produce for lunches at six elementary schools, plus gardening workshops and lessons in food, agriculture and nutrition to foster island-wide healthy habits.