Ever felt a teensy bit guilty about the sea, sand and palm tree holiday that you are luxuriating in and how little of your spending is going back into the local community?

If so, you will be happy to hear that increasingly there is the choice to have a fabulous holiday whilst also supporting local life. Slowly but surely there are initiatives that are working hard to make a difference to the lives of locals while still providing quality experiences for tourists.

Due to its gorgeous tropical climate and proximity to New Zealand, Fiji is often the go to country of choice for a long weekend away or an extended break.

In the hills above Lautoka (Vita Levu) you will find the HQ of FRIEND Fiji (Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development).  FRIEND was set up in 2001 by passionate journalist turned community development worker Sashi Kiranworks.  FRIEND works within communities helping people to gain knowledge, skills and resources that will enable them to break out of the poverty cycle. Some of these people are impaired or need a second chance at life while others require knowledge and skills to assist them to run sustainable (organic) and viable farms.
Many of the women were already making delicious chutneys and preserves with their local produce with no avenue to release these into the market.  FRIEND has provided a commercial grade kitchen, shop and newly opened café where they sell and use The FRIEND Fiji Style® range of products (pickles, chutneys, jams, herbal teas and spices) made from local products (think tamarind, mango and coconut) as well as handmade cards and craft products.  Our visit to FRIEND is just before the café opens and we get to taste some of the trial dishes with accompanying condiments.  The flavours are big bold and so very good. The coconut and spice infused tamarind chutney is a favourite as is the mango relish.

Visitors to Friend are encouraged and the products purchased (aside from honey) make lovely gifts to bring back to New Zealand.
FRIEND products are also available in Proud Duty Free stores.

Still on Vita Levu but along the Coral Coast (near Sigatoka) is the international Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.

Yes, an international hotel chain but one that is also dedicated to their local community. Under the guidance of their energetic and enthusiastic GM Peter Hopgood, Outrigger always has at least one community project on the go.  Every month one of the departments at Outrigger (think bar, restaurant, housekeeping, front of house etc.…) undertakes a community project by providing support and assistance to local schools, hospitals, orphanages and other charities. The resort was involved in funding the maternity ward at Sigatoka Hospital – I am just thankful that there wasn’t anyone in the throes of giving birth as we freely strolled through the facilities.
Our visit does coincide with a team of 18 BMI eye specialists from the USA who spend a week at Sigatoka hospital each year providing free eye testing and treatment for locals.  They work tirelessly on a voluntary basis and see well over 600 pre-booked patients during their week’s stay.

Each year Outrigger provide free accommodation to the team and also includes some evening entertainment.  At their final night drinks and canapes, eyes are moist as goodbyes are said and thank yous given while across the lagoon the sun set provides a picturesque background.
A constant project of Outrigger is the support of Conua District School and Kindergarten. Our visit to the school is greeted with enormous smiles from super happy kids who now have a fenced secure play area, a new library,  new kindergarten (the roof leaked on the old one) and this year there are two new classrooms being built.

The new classrooms are a direct response to the increased roll which in turn comes from the school now being a special feature in the community. Sitting in a prominent place within the kindergarten I notice toothbrushes with toothpaste for each child, confirming that often education needs to cover more than pens and paper.
Resort guests are able by prior arrangement to get involved in these projects, either assisting on building sites or by offering other skills as may be needed at the time.

As well as community work Outrigger also has a staff rugby team, rugby league team, volleyball teams, netball teams, cheer squad and a spine tingling talented choir.

Holidays are just that much better when you know there is a feel-good factor attached to it!

I am sure there are plenty more tales like this to share and I would love to read any of your experiences.
Helen

Helen travelled as a guest of Tourism Fiji and Outrigger Resort and Spa.

With a balmy tropical climate, endless coconut palms, juicy sweet pineapples and water teaming with fish, Fiji is truly the destination for discovering fine ingredients and great food.

Increasingly restaurants and resorts are actively seeking to source ingredients from within Fiji, boosting both the local economy simultaneously showing the world just how amazing their cuisine is.

Relaxing into a flight that is only long enough to watch a movie, Fiji is an obvious destination for either a languid holiday or a quick battery recharge weekend away. While Denarau is a popular choice due to proximity, you can also leave Auckland in the morning and be beachside at islands such as Vomo in time for lunch. The luxurious island of Vomo was severely hit by Cyclone Winston which meant a rebuild of not just bures and gardens, but also staff numbers due to the island being closed for many months. Their doors are now wide open again with promises of bigger and better. New chef Preeti Bomzon (most recently from Vietnam) will be working with her team of chefs and gardeners to bring her favourite recipes from Indian, Vietnamese and European cuisine to the table. Vomo prides itself on the freshest of ingredients and the Kokoda (pictured above) doesn’t disappoint.

Over on the mainland of Vitu Levu, many individuals and organisations are working closely together to ensure that Fiji earns its deserved place on the world food map.One to be commended is the organisation Friend Fiji. The team at Friend are committed to educating local farmers, assisting them to not only grow the spices, fruit and vegetables in demand by chefs but also to use organic and free range farming methods. Friend have a small store selling delicious artisanal chutneys (think mango and tamarind) jams (pineapple is a favourite), vanilla and coconut products. At time of writing, Friend are also due to open a Café at their garden in Lautoka which, judging from our taste test, is sure to be a fabulous blend of traditional ingredients and contemporary methods.
Around Lautoka and Nadi are a collection of innovative food/drink ventures, Fiji rum is excellent in mojitos and the coconut liqueur over ice is dangerously drinkable. The Adi range of chocolates are international in quality and the fragrance from the basil farm could be bottled and sold. These are but a few of the producers, a day out on a food trail is great for those wanting a break from the pool.

Nadi is only a quick taxi ride from Denarau and in the greater Nadi area you will find a number of superb eating places that offer full flavoured fresh fare with fair pricing. Taste Fiji is one of my favourites. The quirky retro furniture and eclectic collectibles make for an aesthetically pleasing relaxed environment with a kids corner of toys to ensure everyone is happy. Talented husband and wife team of chef Lee Acreman and front of house Louise, believe in taking the best of Fiji produce and cooking Fiji food with a contemporary twist as well as a range of South East Asian dishes that are well suited to the climate and ingredients. Taste Fiji Chocolate Brownie is a fabulous fudgie dessert style brownie and one I have already made many times. Using freshly grated coconut blended with local basil for pesto spooned over pan fried mahi mahi made a delicious change to the usual pine nut variety.

Elsa Corrigan has for many years pleased the snow bunny set at Squaw Valley (Lake Tahoe USA) with her modern Japanese food. A chance encounter and conversation saw Elsa taking her concept and recipes to MamaSake Wailoaloa Beach, Nadi, where she continues to provide dishes such as sesame crusted seared tuna, fabulous salads (lots of avocado) and an impressive range of sushi (soft shell crab, tuna and of course teriyaki chicken). Perfect for those wanting something different from resort food, the menu has such great choices that it is worth a repeat visit. There is often live music and even a pool for those really wanting to chill out.
Closer to the Denarau resorts is of course the burgeoning Denarau port area where there is much more to do than simply catch a boat – or plane as it may be; there are aa growing number of restaurants to choose from. Jono Oguana is well known in Auckland circles for Café O in Grey Lynn. Sister Cherie has replicated O in the port area (and also Nadi) and the food is fabulous! Their signature ricotta hotcakes for brunch are super light and fluffy and my breakfast salad so full of vitality that I felt quite healthily smug for the remainder of the day. The coffee is also as good as anywhere in my own local hood.
Essentially Fiji today is all about choices, and for those wanting to discover fresh food cooked well, you certainly can.
Kana vakalevu (eat a lot and eat well).

Helen was a guest of Tourism Fiji and Vomo Island.