The Hon. Audley Shaw, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, witnessed first-hand on Friday, June 5, 2020, the packing of some 10,000 pounds of West Indian Red Peppers from Mr. Gary Coulton’s farm. These peppers are reaped weekly and supplied to GraceKennedy Foods Agro Processing Facility in Hounslow St. Elizabeth, for use in a wide range of food items for local and international consumers. This is a great strategic partnership between GK Foods and Jamaican farmers on our Agro Parks. Also present to witness the occasion were Dr. Al Powell CEO – Agro Invest, Vitus Evans – Chairman Agro Invest, Mrs. Maureen Denton – General Manager GK Foods, Agro Invest’s Team, MICAF’s Communications and Public Relations Team and members of the media.
The Spring Plain Agro Park, is one of the 7 Agro Parks managed by the Agro Investment Corporation and is Global Gap Certified. It consists of 705 acres, with 602 acres being irrigated. All acreages are leased out. There are currently 21 investors/ farmers on the Park including 5 females, at reaping time over 100 persons are hired. Seasonal crops produced on the farm includes onion, peppers, scotch bonnet, cassava, lettuce, okra, cauliflower, pak choi, sweet potato, Irish potato and carrots.
Agriculture is of great strategic importance to the Government and we at Agro Invest, will continue to invest millions of dollars to upgrade agricultural technology, support farmers and incorporate agricultural best practices to assure food security for all.
