HONOLULU -- The company that produces the bulk of poi sold in Hawaii said it is dealing with a major shortage.

Poi is a favorite food of many island residents. It's rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, and has been a staple in Hawaii for hundreds of years.

Video

Mother Nature Trims Poi Supply

HPC Foods buys most of the taro root grown in the state. The company produces poi under the Taro Brand label.

While poi shortages are not uncommon, this year retailers will see their supply cut back and shoppers can expect the supply to be rationed. The company has even stopped taking party orders.

The shortage is due to Mother Nature, according to company officials.

"The apple snail, the leaf blight, the root rot, no one particular reason, just a combination depending on what island, what farm," said Charin Tomomitsu of HPC Foods.

The kind of weather Hawaii had last year also reduced the amount of taro poi producers have to work with, company officials said. Heavy rains and cold weather produces a much smaller taro root as compared to the normal size, they said.

Poi shortages have been known to get ugly.

"We've had incidences recently where people will call and say, 'We're waiting at the store. Your drivers are not here yet. Why aren't they here? We're waiting for the poi,'" Tomomitsu said.

In recent years, interest in farming the loi, or taro patches, has declined. The owner of HPC Foods said that's a problem, too.

"We've got to have more land and water so that we can grow more taro, and we need more young farmers," said Ernest Tottori of HPC Foods.

It takes 14 months for taro, or kalo, to mature.