CONSTRUCTION of a factory that will process sorrel to make jams, jellies and juices in Westmoreland will begin this June.
"The desire of the Bethel Town Agricultural Co-operative was to increase the earnings possible from sorrel cultivation while providing schools within the area with a nutritious locally made alternative juice," said Stephannie Hutchinson-Ffrench, project manager for REDI.
It is to supply value-added sorrel products to the market as well as to generate employment opportunities for community members through expanded sorrel production and, transportation of raw material and the finished goods and vending of the finished products, according to agriculture specliast at JSIF, Vincent Thompson.
There's a ready market for fruit drinks, which has been found to be rich in anti-oxidants to schools, shops and supermarkets in Westmoreland that has been established by the group.
Other products under consideration are bag drinks, chutneys and sorrel-flavoured treats.
Potential markets include but is not limited to; schools, restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, shops, bars, and health food stores in Westmoreland, St James, Hanover, and St Elizabeth, Hutchinson-Ffrench said.
Already, there are 128 acres of land to produce the plant made available by the Bethel Town Agricultural Cooperative Bethel and the Westmoreland Association of Branch Societies.
About 40 farmers have been confirmed to produce the plant for the facility, but farmers who don't have a ready market can approach the factory, Hutchinson-Ffrench said.
The group is seeking a larger market for their products as well as better returns, overall, said Ian Hill, chairman of the Cooperative.
"Farmers in Westmoreland currently sell mainly to higglers who sell in municipal markets and are not able to attract premium prices due to the nature of their market," Hill said. "This therefore limits their earning potential compared to if they were to be higher on the value chain."
Sorrel is planted all year round and does well in soil that is free draining, Thompson said.
"There is little chance that there will be little supply as farmers have been contracted and planning production is in place," the agriculture specialist said.
What's more, farmers who will grow the plant aren't restricted to the Bethel Town area, but spreads as far as Petersfield and other areas.
As it relates to contingency plan in the event a storm hits, Thompson said a drying facility will be in place to ensure there is supply available for processing.
A modern agro-processing facility, which conforms to food safety standard and includes production area, bathrooms, cold storage area, sorting area, and an office is going to be built, Thompson said.
All of JSIF's facilities will conform to food safety, and has been designed in accordance with the Scientific Research Council.
"There will be areas for changing and sanitation... so there should be no contamination," he said.
The Bethel Town Agricultural Cooperative applied for funding to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), which is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).
Of the total $24.8 million to be spent on the project, JSIF contributed $19.3 million and the community offered $4.3 million in discounted labour, payment for lease of the land and coordination of employment for members of the community among other areas.
A second phase of the construction will focus on the equipping of the facility, capacity building through various trainings including facility operations and maintenance as well as market support -- branding, labelling and packaging
Once the agro-processing facility is built, farmers are expected to realise a 400 per cent increase in revenue adding value to the products.
There’s a ready market for fruit drinks, which has been found to be rich in anti-oxidants, to schools, shops and supermarkets in Westmoreland that has been established by the group.
   There’s a ready market for fruit drinks, which has been found to be rich in anti-oxidants, to schools, shops and supermarkets in Westmoreland that has been established by the group. #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  1/1  |
It is to supply value-added sorrel products to the market as well as to generate employment opportunities for community members through expanded sorrel production and, transportation of raw material and the finished goods and vending of the finished products, according to agriculture specliast at JSIF, Vincent Thompson.
There's a ready market for fruit drinks, which has been found to be rich in anti-oxidants to schools, shops and supermarkets in Westmoreland that has been established by the group.
Other products under consideration are bag drinks, chutneys and sorrel-flavoured treats.
Potential markets include but is not limited to; schools, restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, shops, bars, and health food stores in Westmoreland, St James, Hanover, and St Elizabeth, Hutchinson-Ffrench said.
Already, there are 128 acres of land to produce the plant made available by the Bethel Town Agricultural Cooperative Bethel and the Westmoreland Association of Branch Societies.
About 40 farmers have been confirmed to produce the plant for the facility, but farmers who don't have a ready market can approach the factory, Hutchinson-Ffrench said.
The group is seeking a larger market for their products as well as better returns, overall, said Ian Hill, chairman of the Cooperative.
"Farmers in Westmoreland currently sell mainly to higglers who sell in municipal markets and are not able to attract premium prices due to the nature of their market," Hill said. "This therefore limits their earning potential compared to if they were to be higher on the value chain."
Sorrel is planted all year round and does well in soil that is free draining, Thompson said.
"There is little chance that there will be little supply as farmers have been contracted and planning production is in place," the agriculture specialist said.
What's more, farmers who will grow the plant aren't restricted to the Bethel Town area, but spreads as far as Petersfield and other areas.
As it relates to contingency plan in the event a storm hits, Thompson said a drying facility will be in place to ensure there is supply available for processing.
A modern agro-processing facility, which conforms to food safety standard and includes production area, bathrooms, cold storage area, sorting area, and an office is going to be built, Thompson said.
All of JSIF's facilities will conform to food safety, and has been designed in accordance with the Scientific Research Council.
"There will be areas for changing and sanitation... so there should be no contamination," he said.
The Bethel Town Agricultural Cooperative applied for funding to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), which is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).
Of the total $24.8 million to be spent on the project, JSIF contributed $19.3 million and the community offered $4.3 million in discounted labour, payment for lease of the land and coordination of employment for members of the community among other areas.
A second phase of the construction will focus on the equipping of the facility, capacity building through various trainings including facility operations and maintenance as well as market support -- branding, labelling and packaging