September 3, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PAGO PAGO ---------- FALEOMAVAEGA PROPOSES COMMERCIAL AVA PRODUCTION FOR AMERICAN SAMOA FARMERS

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he recently held consultations with an official from a major drug manufacturing company from the United States concerning the purchase of ava root, also known as kava root, from American Samoa for use as a medicine.

"I am very thrilled with this new development which will provide another option for our farmers to earn additional income, and diversify our economy at the same time," said Faleomavaega. The official expressed a keen interest in an arrangement through which his company could purchase commercial-grade ava on a regular and sustained basis."

"I have been consulting with a buyer who purchases ava from all over the Pacific, and he is willing to come to American Samoa to meet with American Samoa's farmers to determine the level of interest in the sustained production of ava root. To determine the level of interest, I intend to invite American Samoa's farmers to meet with him in the next few weeks," continued Faleomavaega.

"Currently, ava is being produced commercially in Fiji for refinement in Germany, but additional supply is needed for the market in the United States. This buyer informed me that his biggest concern is that he needs a sustainable source of the ava root to make the arrangement commercially viable," said the Congressman.

"I hope my schedule will permit me to return home for this meeting. I also hope the local administration will be supportive of this proposal. Given the problems we have with taro blight, an additional crop we can sell commercially will add some diversity to our fragile economy," concluded Faleomavaega.