Owners of vegetable farms near an American Samoan landfill have been told by the Agriculture Department that they must relocate their farms before they can again supply produce for the territory's school lunch programme.
At a meeting with farmers, the Agriculture Director, Lealao Mel Purcell, said the department had put a closure on about five farms near the landfill in Futiga due to food safety concerns.
Lealao said rubbish, chemicals and other toxins from the landfill run down to the farms when it rains, which could contaminate vegetables.
He said that if the farmers want to supply school lunches, they need to move.
