Wallis and Futuna to Host Food Week 2025 Promoting Healthy, Local Eating

Wallis and Futuna Kicks Off Food Week 2025

Wallis and Futuna is set to host its annual Food Week from October 3 to 10, 2025, with a comprehensive program designed to promote healthy, local, and responsible eating. The initiative, spearheaded by the Direction des services de l'agriculture, de la forêt et de la pêche (DSA), aims to tackle pressing issues such as rising rates of overweight and diabetes, declining consumption of local produce, and increasing reliance on imported processed foods. The week-long event also seeks to preserve traditional agricultural and culinary practices.

The 2025 edition reinforces the objectives of the Territorial Food Plan (PAT), operating under the motto: 'Plus de local dans nos assiettes, plus de santé dans nos vies' ('More local on our plates, more health in our lives').

Key Events and Activities

The Food Week program is structured around several key events across the islands:

• October 3: Le Village de l'Alimentation (Food Village) will take place at Place Sagato Soane in Wallis. This event will serve as a vibrant showcase of the local food system, featuring educational stands, animations, tastings, and demonstrations. Topics covered will include production (agriculture, fishing, livestock), transformation (flour, oil, local recipes), distribution (markets, short circuits), consumption (food choices, health), and waste management (sorting, composting). It is designed to be an educational, fun, and interactive experience for all ages.
• October 4: The Marché de l'Alimentation Saine & 5ᵉ Rendez-vous des Petits Entrepreneurs (Healthy Food Market & 5th Young Entrepreneurs' Meeting) will be held concurrently at Place Sagato Soane (Wallis) and Marché de Fatua (Futuna). Organized by the CCIMA, this event will bring together local producers, processors, young entrepreneurs from colleges and high schools, and 'agripreneurs' from Futuna. Attendees can expect competitions, tastings, music, and stands showcasing artisan and agro-processed products.
• October 6 to 10: Educational activities will be conducted in schools and colleges throughout the territory. These activities include healthy cooking workshops, contests, exhibitions, tastings, and educational games focusing on nutrition and the five senses. Additionally, open days at 'Jardins Écoles' (School Gardens) will be organized, where students learn to cultivate local fruits and vegetables, participate in educational tastings, and receive traditional agricultural and culinary knowledge.

Addressing Health and Cultural Challenges

The initiative directly addresses the concerning observations in Wallis and Futuna, including a significant increase in overweight and diabetes, particularly among the youth. By promoting local consumption, the Food Week aims to reduce the growing dependence on imported processed foods and revitalize traditional food practices that are integral to the islands' cultural heritage.

Wallis and Futuna's cuisine is a unique blend of French culinary techniques and local Polynesian ingredients, featuring abundant fresh seafood, tropical fruits like papaya, banana, and coconut, and traditional dishes such as 'Bougna', 'Palusami', and 'Poulet Fafa'. The traditional 'Umu' earthen oven cooking method is also a significant part of the local culinary identity.

Through these diverse activities, the Wallis and Futuna Food Week 2025 seeks to foster a healthier community, support local economies, and celebrate the rich culinary traditions of the islands.