BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE 2025 National Trade Fair kicked off with a bang yesterday, drawing in dozens of businesses, government ministries and local vendors across Honiara, Guadalcanal and even other provinces.

Amidst the colourful display of homemade crafts, local innovations and sizzling food stalls, stands Gabriella Lovi from East Guadalcanal – a wife, mother, grandmother and a pineapple farmer.

For many Honiara residents, the revived trade fair brings back memories of the early 90s and 2000s but for Lovi, now in her 60s, it marks a proud milestone: her first-ever opportunity to sell her sweet, fleshy pineapples.

Tucked away from the main stage, her modest stall has drawn a steady stream of customers.

Sitting among fellow farmers, Lovi spares several of her minutes with Island Sun, sharing her excitement and nervousness.

“This is my very first time at the trade show and I am happy to be here,” says the farmer.  

Selling 110 pineapples priced between $10 and $30, Ms. Lovi explains that her participation came by chance.

“I was just asked to come and sell my pineapples here so I went to my garden, harvested and came to Honiara,” recalls Lovi.

Only being in the pineapple business for a year, Lovis shares that she was inspired by other fellow villagers who were making money from selling pineapples.

“I  saw them selling and I wanted to be like them, so I started planting and now that I have already harvested and started selling at the market and now here, I finally see money and I am so happy,” she said.

When asked about the advice she would give to other women Lovi says;

“I tell them not to depend too much on their husbands. I believe strong women can also do men’s work but I also remind them that if your husband is working hard, you can help him too, no matter what.”

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