Vital Coconut Development Unit ethnobotany class visit
The ethnobotany class studies the plants people use and how those plants are used. The unit on material cultural uses of plant products includes economic botany, economically valuable plants and their uses. The coconut tree is literally the tree of life and a tremendous natural resource. Federated States of Micronesia Public Law 18-68, the Coconut Tree Act of 2014, placed the former national Coconut Development Authority with Vital. Vital has been executing a mandate from the President of the FSM and the FM Congress with an eye toward rapidly developing the coconut sector in the FSM into a long-term sustainable economic activity. Source: Vital Transition of CDA: Phase I
During this field trip the class learns about the development of the coconut oil industry in the FSM. Vital CDU purchases copra from the outer islands providing a critical source of income for outer islanders. The oil is then sold to retailers. Vital CDU is a wholesaler of oil.
Bus pulls in at 3:59
Under this mandate Vital has set a number of goals. Vital plans to develop and upgrade domestic processing capacity of coconut.Vital will be able to process copra produced in the FSM into crude coconut oil for fuel, and coconut meal for animal feed. In a separate process Vital also continues to produce coconut oil for cooking, soap, and the production of body oil.
Homage to group entries in countless movies: Jeanie, Casan-Jenae, Angela
During this field trip the class learns about the development of the coconut oil industry in the FSM. Vital CDU purchases copra from the outer islands providing a critical source of income for outer islanders. The oil is then sold to retailers. Vital CDU is a wholesaler of oil.
Cherlylinda
Role call by photo: Sandra
The rest of the class
Kerat, Ravelyn, Sandra, Casan-Jenae
Coconut oil, diesel grade
Expelled copra, the copra cake is excellent pig feed
Casan-Jenae, Cherlylinda, and Ravelyn. The drums are also filled with coconut oil
Eddie explains that if the copra is good, 100 pounds of copra will produce 60 pounds of oil, 30 pounds of copra cake. The rest is lost as sludge or moisture loss.
Copra input
Eddie talking to the class, Angela, Randy, Al, Michelle, and Jeanie up front
Ravelyn, Kerat, Angela, Randy, Sandra, Al, Michelle
Eddie showing the class the copra cake, Norton and Dukay watching
Steel tank is a new addition, full of oil
Filter input
Filters
Filter oil outputs: diesel grade
On the other side the Vital CDU produces food and cosmetics grade oil
Kerat, Randy, Sebastion, Dukay listen to the production process
The oil expeller press
Laborator
Soap molds
Papaya and jasmine scented soaps, hotel size
Soap
More soap!
Dukay with coconut oil
Vital CDU will custom label soap for customers
Departure for campus at 4:31 P.M.
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