Several weeks into the Cook Islands’ longest chestnut harvesting season, local women are particularly enjoying the bounty from the impressive chestnut trees planted by their ancestors.

A common sight when going around the island is stalls by local vendors plying their trade, selling vegetables, fruits and more. Now added to the offerings are chestnuts, with over 10 stalls around the island selling them, mostly for $20 a packet.

Matangaro Taumaa Eli, a 44-year-old mother, is one of them, selling chestnuts across the road from CITC Supermarket with her daughter.

The mother of five says she is reaping the fruits of the passion instilled in her by her grandparents, who taught her how to cook and sell chestnuts.

“I started in the middle week of February and the season goes right throughout to October … it’s just that you have to go in the mountain because they’re in the mountain,” Eli tells Cook Islands News.

“I’ve been doing this since my grandparents were alive, which was decades ago, and it helped us a lot with raising my kids and still does.

“It’s really exciting because it helps my family and it may be the longest season there is because it’s almost all throughout the year.”

Eli resides in the town area but is originally from Ngatangiia, where she sources her chestnuts from the mountains.

Ina Tuuri’s well-cooked chestnuts being sold for $20 a pack in Avatiu. TALAIA MIKA/25032119

According to her, collecting chestnuts from the mountain is difficult and challenging, especially having to go further in to find them. However, it’s all worth it after she sells a good number of packets daily.

Just like the others, she sells chestnut packets for $20 and makes over $400 from the more than 20 packets she sells a day.

Chestnuts are well-loved by locals, and during its season, Ina Tuuri is one of many women vendors who use their homegrown skills and energy to live off the land.

According to a single mother of one, this is likely the most exciting season, helping her put food on the table and pay bills and home necessities.

“I’ve been selling since I was 16. I love eating it but I love selling it better,” Ina Tuuri says.

“If I make more than 70 packets, that’s like two grand and it’s $20 per packet. I’m very excited for this season.

“I stay with my aunty and many other relatives and my child and I collect chestnuts from just one big tree in our front yard.

“It helps us put food on the table and buy the main things we need at home like oven and so forth.”

Tuuri sells over 50 packets daily, earning approximately $2000 a week, especially with the peak season starting.

She started selling last week, and life has never been better for the young mother, especially given the current high cost of living in the Cook Islands.