“OKRA PUSSA” and other links…
“OKRA PUSSA A vegetable full of nourishing elements Latin Name: Abelmoschus esculentus Other Comercial Names: Ochro, Okoro, Quimgombo, Quingumbo, Ladies Fingers, Gombo, Kopi Arab, Bhindi, Bendi, Bamia, Pusa, Sawan, Indian Okra Certified produce by Global G.A.P. Okra, also known as lady’s finger, offers a superb taste. It is also nutritious and medicinal. It is a good source of Vitamin C, Folic Acid, essential vitamins as well as Magnesium, Manganese, and Potassium. Okra is also high in dietary fibber. The species apparently originated in the Ethiopian Highlands, though the manner of distribution from there is undocumented. The Egyptians and Moors of the 12th and 13th centuries used the Arab word for the plant, suggesting that it had come from the east. A pickled Okra pod may be used to replace the olive in a Martini to create an ‘Okratini’.”
“Leafy Green Vegetables in African Food, Health and Wealth: Part I.”
Suite101.com: “Patrick Maundu, a Kenyan ethno botanist estimates that there are more than 45,000 species of plants in Sub-Saharan Africa, of which about 1,000 can be eaten as green leafy vegetables. The problem currently facing the continent is that the knowledge is passed through the generations with little documentation. The available documentation faces lack of uniformity due to the use of many dialects that offer descriptions of similar products in different names. This is a hurdle that has resulted in making some species apparently unknown and may lead to some species falling into disuse or simply being lost.”
“Lost Crops of Africa: Volume II: Vegetables”
Books.nap.edu: “This report is the second in a series of three evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa’s food supply. The volume describes the characteristics of 18 little-known indigenous African vegetables (including tubers and legumes) that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists and policymakers and in the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each vegetable to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each species is described in a separate chapter, based on information gathered from and verified by a pool of experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume III African fruits.”
“Trailer – ‘Mr Okra’ (Sundance 2010 Preview)”
Shadow And Act: “The story goes… in the age of fast food, strip malls, and mega-markets, Mr. Okra stands as a stark contrast to the high technology and shiny produce markets of the modern world. His is a different world. His is a world steeped in tradition, complicated by its diversity, but simple in its truth. His world is New Orleans. In a city known for its music and food, and its characters, Mr. Okra travels the back streets of the Bywater, Tremé and the 9th ward, selling his vegetables from his iconic truck, one okra at a time. His unique promotion has made him a fixture in New Orleans and an integral part of the fabric of this community.”