With millions of dollars at stake, the Bahamas Agriculture
and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) was recently urged by a sector operator to
capitalize on the developing produce industry by focusing on improving its pre-
and post-harvest quality management in a move that would see them delivering
sought after produce on a year-round basis. Craig Symonette, principal of Lucayan
Tropical Produce and a senior stakeholder in AML Foods Limited, said the
Institute’s ability to service the sector on a consistent basis would allow it
and its associated farmers to not just tap into the estimated $20 million in
sales experienced by AML Food’s retail and wholesale operations, but also keep
a larger portion of the funds spent throughout the industry within the national
economy.
Speaking during a recent tour of BAMSI’s North Andros farm
and related facilities, including the North Andros Packing House, Mr. Symonette
said Cost Rite and Solomon’s experience sales of produce to the tune of some $20
million in annual produce sales, nearly twenty per cent of an estimated overall
intake of $135 million total grocery sales. Pointing to the banana industry as
an example of BAMSI’s ability to take over a product that has traditionally
been imported, Everton Parks, BAMSI’s farm manager, noted that despite some
initial challenges, they were looking to expand the production of bananas in
the short term from some 20 acres to 100 and then move to 200 acres of
production all in an effort to meet the year-round needs of quality produce for
the Bahamian market.
President of BAMSI Godfrey Eneas underscored also that
BAMSI’s ability to supply the market did not end at fresh produce, but also
included the value added segment that would see the item transformed into an
array of secondary products – from chips to baby food to daiquiri mix and baked
goods. Toward that end, Mr. Eneas noted that BAMSI’s future includes the
operation of a processing plant – a move that would enable the Institute to
produce contracted private labels. Further, BAMSI Project Director Dr. Omer
Thomas noted that an effective pre- and post-harvest quality management
protocol is already being implemented with the position that these clear
mechanisms of production will provide the highest consistency of year round
production.
Mr. Symonette was accompanied on the BAMSI tour by his son
Cameron Symonette, a senior executive with Lucayan Tropical. The two toured the
BAMSI farm and were able to see firsthand the extensive banana and papaya
fields and also a significant pineapple field with some 23,000 slips currently
in the ground and another 60,000 expected shortly. The pineapples were heralded
as an important addition to the Bahamian produce sector because the variant was
spineless, which makes it easier and quicker to harvest. The two also had the
opportunity to see BAMSI’s livestock. With the recent import of a number of
additional sheep and goat, BAMSI will now be the largest mutton producer in the
country.
The Symonette’s were also invited to partner with BAMSI’s
research and educational arm to assist Lucayan Tropical and other related
agencies within the industry with on the ground training in post-harvest
techniques, an area that BAMSI sees as critical to the success and continued
development of the food industry.
Along with the challenge to provide local retailers and
wholesalers with year round sought after produce, BAMSI’s recent partnering
with Super Value, the country’s largest food store chain, are credible steps being
taken to increase the economic intake of Bahamian farmers through its
Associated Farmer’s Programme, reduce total food imports and provide Bahamian
families with locally grown, high quality produce.
