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An Assessment of Jamaica’s Berry Farming Industry to increase supply to the Tourism Sector
60 Knutsford Boulevard, PanJam Building, 2nd Floor, Kingston 5
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page(s)
List of Acronyms
5
Executive Summary
6
Introduction
9
Background
12
Findings
14
Major Berry Farmers
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Berries Grown in Jamaica
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Berry Importation
31
Needs Assessment
33
Recommendations
34
Conclusion
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Reference
39
Appendices
41
LIST OF ACRONYMS ABIS
Agricultural Business Information System
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AMID
Agricultural Marketing Information Division
GPS
Global Positioning System
GDP IICA JAS
MoAF MOT
RADA SBS
TEF
TOR USA
Gross Domestic Product
Inter-American Institute of Jamaica Jamaica Agricultural Society
Ministry of Agriculture and Fishers Ministry of Tourism
Rural Agricultural Development Authority Synergy Business Solutions
Tourism Enhancement Fund Terms of Reference
United States of America
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The need for commercial berry cultivation has become increasingly important given the growing need for berries (Blackberry, Mulberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, and Strawberry)
locally, and the unfortunate realization that Jamaica has had to depend heavily on the
importation of berries to satisfy local demand. The commissioned 2015 and 2019 Tourism
Demand Studies through the Tourism Enhancement Fund highlighted berry production as an area of opportunity that could be exploited by local farmers to supply the local market.
The increase in demand for these berries locally indicates that Jamaicans are becoming more health conscious, in addition to increasing visitor arrivals due to significant growth in
the tourism sector. Producing these berries commercially could strengthen the country’s food security and save foreign exchange.
The continued importation of berries to satisfy the local demand is not sustainable and will
erode the economic gains made within the last decade. Therefore, developing the necessary
knowledge and tools to facilitate the development of high-quality, consumer-desirable
fresh berry fruits of high nutritional quality at a competitive cost is critical in reducing dependency on imports and making Jamaica more food secure.
Contact was made with the relevant stakeholders, ministries, and agencies to identify commercial blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, and mulberry farmers. While no commercial
berry farms were located, blackberry and mulberry were identified in several locations
island-wide. The varieties of these berries could not be identified, but the quality of the fruit is comparable to those imported. Strawberry varieties will not be of great focus as it was previously assessed in the first study.
A review of varieties that could potentially be produced island-wide was done and recommended for trial. It was also recommended that the technical competency of
extension service providers should be developed to allow for effective knowledge transfer
to farmers. Furthermore, the engagement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Research Division and tertiary institutions is central to the development of appropriate technology and best practices to ensure the adaption of berry plants to local conditions.
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We can conclude that while not much work has been done in this area, the potential for earnings that can be derived from berry production is significant if the appropriate investment is made to strengthen technical resources.
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INTRODUCTION Though berries have delicious taste and flavour, they are also the best dietary sources of
bioactive compounds, which have made them of great interest to nutritionists and food
technologists who wish to seize the opportunity to use bioactive compounds as functional
foods ingredients (Skrovan, 2015). While much work and investment has been done over the past five years to increase strawberry production in Jamaica, small investment has been made to enhance the development of other berries.
According to information received from the Agricultural Marketing and Information Division (AMID) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, between 2019 and 2020,
Jamaica imported an estimated 813,497.95 kg of fresh and frozen berries valued at JMD 233,428,321.32 (see tables 3 and 4 on pages 25 & 26– Berry Imports).
Noting that with the continued growth of the tourism sector and the emerging healthconscious practices of Jamaicans, it is also assumed that the demand for berries will
continue to grow. Furthermore, for a developing economy like Jamaica, the continued
importation of berries is not sustainable and will erode the economic gains made within
the last decade. Therefore, developing the necessary knowledge and tools to facilitate the
development of high-quality, consumer-desirable fresh berry fruits of high nutritional quality at a competitive cost is critical in reducing dependency on imports.
Even though berries are not traditionally grown in Jamaica, recent work by both the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Tourism Enhancement Fund to successfully
expand strawberry production has proven that high-quality berries can be cultivated at a
competitive cost in Jamaica. The maturity of Jamaica’s agriculture extension services will allow for the development and application of validated methods to produce high-quality
berries locally. In addition, the necessary inputs and technology can bring the cultivation
practices to a higher level whereby the (production and price) stability can be improved by reducing the risks of crop failure.
Based on the demand and the leakages that occur from berry imports as outlined in both Tourism Demand Studies, the Ministry of Tourism through the Tourism Linkages Network
has initiated a Berry Enhancement Programme to identify existing berries being produced 10
locally, to explore the possibilities of producing berries that are not traditional produce in Jamaica for use in the tourism and hospitality sector to reduce leakages. According to the
2019 study, the highest demand for agricultural produce was in the fruits category where hotels purchased more than 2.7 million pounds per month valued at JMD 439,472,803.00.
The total quantity of monthly demand for agricultural products, including fruits, meat, and seafood, by hotels, amounted to 5.66 million pounds and was valued at JMD 1.62 billion.
This follow-up study places focus on the findings such as major berry farmers in Jamaica,
the types of berries that are being grown, and those which are being imported, and
provides a needs assessment of what is required developmentally to bring the sector and producers to a level to satisfy local demands and reduce importation of berries.
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BACKGROUND Synergy Business Solutions (SBS) was commissioned by the Tourism Enhancement Fund
(TEF) to assess Jamaica’s current state of berry farming and prepare a need assessment to identify capacity development needs to increase supply to the tourism sector. This report
seeks to present the findings uncovered throughout the source of the study. The assessment of the current state of berry production is concentrated on several activities such as: i.
Identifying major berry farmers to establish a digital registry.
ii.
Determining if the specified berries can be cultivated successfully in Jamaica –
iii.
Assess the quantities that are currently being imported for usage in the tourism
iv.
major varieties and existing quantities if any. sector and the associated value.
Detail a need assessment of existing berry farmers and outline their respective capacity development needs.
Objectives The stated objectives of the study are to: i.
Enhance the linkage between Jamaica’s tourism sector and the berry farming
ii.
Assess the needs of Jamaica’s existing berry farmers and their capacity to supply
iii.
industry
the tourism and hospitality sector
Recommend capacity building of Jamaica’s berry farmers to adequately supply the tourism and hospitality sector.
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FINDINGS - THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BERRY INDUSTRY Consultations To produce a well-researched and comprehensive report, contact was made with the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Agricultural Marketing Information Division (AMID),
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS), InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), lead farmers, agricultural
supplies companies and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Research and
Development Division (Bodles Research Station) to ascertain:
1. the types of berries that are imported into Jamaica annually; 2. the types of berries cultivated locally on a commercial scale; 3. the geographical areas where these berries are planted; and
4. to access past research/trials conducted on berry cultivation.
A general request was made for all berry types, though this assessment placed a specific
focus on berries such as raspberries, mulberries blackberries and blueberries.
Contact was made with the identified berry farmers to access their views and experience with berry production, and gain insights as to ideal berry-producing areas and purchasers
of berries locally including but not limited to supermarkets, hoteliers, and fruit vendors.
The overall intent of the study was to build on the material that currently exists to facilitate
the development of a viable berry industry. Field visits were also made to some of the berry production sites to access these farming enterprises – varieties being planted, market reach, as well as major constraints.
Our investigation did not uncover any commercial production of raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and mulberry. However, plots of blackberry were identified in several locations
across the island. The Ministry of Agriculture’s Research Division Top Mountain Research
Station in St Andrew is one of the locations. At the time of our visit, the plants were in poor condition and not properly maintained even though the plants were producing fruits that
were comparable to or better than those imported in terms of size and flavour. Further
checks were made with the Ministry’s Research Division to ascertain the variety,
production, crop care management and pest and disease mechanisms. No data was made 15
available hence the variety and other production information could not be reviewed (see figure 1).
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Figure 1 Photos from the Top Mountain Research Station (St. Andrew)
Blackberry plants were also identified at Hardware Gap on the border of St Andrew and
Portland, Cooper’s Hill, St Andrew, and Manchester. The plants were not being grown
commercially and were not being maintained or in good condition. The variety could not be
identified by the owners of the properties. However, the plants share similar characteristics to those seen at the Top Mountain Research Division.
While not in commercial quantity, blackberry plants were also located in Hampstead, St
Mary; the plants were producing fruits and were in good condition. The plants again rival
those that are imported (see figure 2).
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Figure 2 Photos from the property of Allison Rangolan (Hampstead, St Mary)
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Mulberries while not grown commercially were identified in large quantities in Adam
Valley, Manchester, and the surrounding area. Many plants were also identified in the Blue
Mountain region of St Andrew. The variety and other production data could not be ascertained as the property owners/farmers were unaware of the berry cultivars. These plants were also fruiting and were of similar quality to those imported.
Note: In Mavis Bank and Content Gap, communities in St. Andrew, it was evident that residents harvested and sold the mulberry fruit within the community and Kingston. Identifying major berry farmers to establish a digital registry Contact was made with the Acting Chief Executive Officer of RADA, Ms Marina Young, who
has indicated that the Agricultural Business Information System (ABIS) database is
currently only showing information on farmers involved in strawberry production. These farmers are in the parishes of Manchester and St. Andrew and operate on approximately
178,000 sq. ft. accumulatively. Detailed below is the listing provided of those farmers by RADA:
Table 1: Commercial Strawberry Farmers in Jamaica
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The consultant notes that several of the farmers identified in the previous berry study were
not submitted on RADA’s listing as existing berry farmers. Detailed below are the names of farmers that were not included in the listing provided by RADA; they were also advised to update their registration status with RADA as berry farmers: Name
Contact
Address
Production Capacity
Ronald Williams
876-506-8527
Top Albion Mt,
7000sq. ft
Sylvester Codling
876-885-9590
Wilson Valley, Trelawny
5000sq. ft
Elcardo Joseph
876-846-8440
Top Mountain, St Andrew
3000sq. ft
Allison Rangolan Novelette Headlam
876-451-0944 876-506-8527
Manchester
Hampstead, St Mary
Mt Lebanon, St. Andrew
3000sq. ft 3000 sq. ft
Stephenson Deans
876-279-3869
Coopers Hill, St Andrew
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Santino
876-571-6139
Manchester
3000 sq. ft
Titus Minott Longmore
876-388-3095
Mavis Bank
3000 sq. ft
Table 2: Additional Strawberry Farmers in Jamaica
Some additional farmers are in the process of planting and their information was not captured in the list of farmers provided by RADA of farmers currently producing berry fruits. In the 2021/2022 financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) listed
strawberries among its twelve priority crops, following an assessment which detailed the berry as having the potential to grow in the local market. Consequently, strawberry trials
were conducted at four locations, in support of the development of the strawberry industry
under its Agricultural Competitiveness Bridging Project (ACPBP) – Bodles Research,
Orange River and Top Mountain Research Stations and the College of Agriculture, Science
and Education (CASE) 1. Contact was made with Mrs Carla Douglas, Acting Principal Research Officer at Bodles Research Station, to request the trial finding, but we were informed that the report is not yet completed and will be made available upon completion.
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2021-2022 Annual Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 20
Major varieties and existing quantities of berries which can be cultivated successfully in Jamaica Noting that no commercial blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and mulberry farmers were
identified, and the varieties of blackberry and mulberry could not be identified, this study sought to review specific berries and make recommendations for varieties that could be grown to produce fruit locally. For this study, specific focus will be placed on the following berries:
1. Blueberries 2. Mulberries 3. Raspberries 4. Blackberries 5. Strawberries
Blueberries
Blueberries (genus Vaccinium) are perennial flowering plants with hardy blue or violet berries. The plants can vary in size from 10 centimetres (4 inches) to 4 meters (13 feet) in
height.
Types of Blueberries Currently, in commercial production, blueberries are classified into four distinct types based on the size of the berries and blueberry bushes from which the berries are harvested; these are:
Lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium): ideal for the coldest climates, the creeping plants, a foot or so high, are spread by underground stems, or rhizomes. They are more popularly
found in the Northeast states and adjoining portions of Canada. These plants are usually 21
sold by nurseries as seedlings or unnamed wild plants. The fruits are small but sweet and covered with a thick, waxy bloom often appearing sky blue or grey in colour.
Highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum): These are the most planted blueberries; they can
grow to six-foot shrubs producing larger berries. They can be planted in nearly every climate. The many variants of the highbush blueberries are ‘Berkeley’, ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Blueray’,
“Chandler”, ‘Coville’, ‘Darrow’, ‘Herbert’, ‘Ivanhoe’, ‘Jersey’, ‘Meader’, ‘Misty’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Pink Lemonade’, ‘Pioneer’, ‘Stanley’, ‘Wareham’, among others.
Half-High: these are hybrids cultivated from highbush and lowbush blueberries. The University of Minnesota introduced variants such as: ‘Northcountry’ grows 18 to 24 inches high and has excellent, mild-flavoured, slightly aromatic sky-blue fruits; and ‘Northblue’,
which grows 20 to 30 inches high and produces an abundance of dark-blue, nickel-size,
somewhat tart fruits. The ‘Northland’ variety, developed in Michigan, grows 3 to 4 feet tall and has relatively bland, average-quality fruit.
Rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum): these blueberries are grown in the south-eastern United
States; they are extremely adaptable, productive, and pest tolerant. They do, however, have a high degree of self-incompatibility and require two or more varieties to be planted together to ensure pollination. Varieties include ‘Powderblue’, ‘Woodard’, and ‘Brightwell’.
Southern Highbush (also commonly referred to as V. darrowii, darrow’s blueberry or
evergreen blueberry): these blueberries tend to be harder to grow than rabbiteyes, but there are a few high-quality varieties that do well like ‘Emerald’, ‘Windsor’, and ‘Springhigh’.
Interestingly, blueberries are partially self-fertile; as a result, planting two or more
varieties together will extend the harvest and increase the size of the berries. 2 The varieties being suggested to grow commercially locally, as part of the expansion of the 2 https://www.almanac.com/plant/blueberries
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berry development are Misty, Jewel, and Sunshine. These varieties have low chill hour
requirements and will do well in higher elevated areas such as upper Trelawny and the Blue Mountains and Manchester. 1. Misty Blueberry 3
This variety produces medium to large, sweet, spicy-flavoured berries. It is a high-yielding Southern Highbush variety, which grows fast and produces consistent quality fruits. The
bright blue-green foliage produces pink and white spring flowers and sky-blue summer fruit. This variety produces better yields when planted with other varieties.
It is moderately easy to grow in cold, cool, warm, or hot weather conditions, but produces better results in temperatures between 45°F - 90°F, in well-drained, loamy soil with pH levels of 4.5-5.5. Harvest is typical during the month of June. Plant Height: 48.0 - 72.0"
Plant Diameter: 36.0 - 48.0" Crops: Spring transplant
2. Jewel 4
The Jewel variety has become one of the leading commercial varieties in California due to
its adaptability, exceptional growth, high yields, and large tangy fruit. The Jewel plant
should be planted with other mid-season varieties for best pollination. Like Misty, Jewel is moderately easy to grow in cold, cool, warm, or hot weather conditions, particularly in temperatures between 45°F - 90°F, in well-drained, acidic high-yielding. The Jewel variety
is typically harvested from Mid-June to Mid-July and produces large, tangy fruits that are grey blue in colour.
Plant Height: 72.0 - 96.0" Plant Diameter: 36.0 - 48.0" Crops: Spring transplant
3 https://www.smartgardener.com/plants/1377-blueberry-misty/overview 4
https://www.smartgardener.com/plants/1370-blueberry-jewel/overview
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3. Sunshine Blue 5
Sunshine Blue is a variety that is adapted for vigorous, productive growth in warmer, as
well as cooler, climates. Its berries are grey-blue in colour, richly sweet and medium-sized
and ripen mid to late season (August – September). It tolerates high-pH soils better than most blueberries and is self-pollinating. This semi-dwarf, versatile evergreen blueberry features hot pink flowers that fade to white in spring and has blue-green and burgundy
foliage during fall (mid-September to early December). Plant Height: 36.0 - 48.0"
Plant Diameter: 30.0 - 40.0" Crops: Spring transplant Mulberries
Mulberry (genus Morus) is a fruit-producing tree belonging to the Moraceae plant family.
Mulberry trees are small to medium-sized and produce small, sweet fruits resembling
slender blackberries. The mulberry fruit is a group of small achenes which are surrounded
by a plump calyx; the fruit will start out as white or pale green and ripen to red or dark purple. Berries ripen in late spring or summer. Mulberries are deciduous and can be
monoecious (bearing both male and female flowers) or dioecious (bearing only male or female flowers).
A dioecious plant should be planted with both a male and female combo to ensure fruit
production. Mulberry plants are native to temperate Asia and North America and are also an important food source for silkworms.
5 https://www.smartgardener.com/plants/1341-blueberry-sunshine-blue/overview
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Types of Mulberries 67 Mulberries are classified into five distinct types; these are:
Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is the largest of the genus, often reaching a height of 21
metres (68 feet). It has two-lobed, three-lobed, or unlobed leaves and dark reddish, black, or purple edible fruits. Red mulberry trees grow quickly and can provide fruit relatively
soon after planting. They are often difficult to find in the nursery trade, but they can be found growing in the wild.
White mulberry (Morus alba) is native to Asia and naturalized in eastern North America.
Despite the name, the fruits can ripen to white, pink, black or purple; white mulberry trees
get their name from the colour of the flower buds. The trees grow up to 60 feet tall and their leaves are used as food for silkworms. The fruits begin white but darken to purplish red. It is considered a seriously invasive plant but is best suited for landscape use.
Black mulberry (Morus nigra) is the most common type, native to western Asia and the Middle East. Black mulberry is mainly cultivated for its large juicy purple-black fruits,
which are superior in flavour to other mulberries. These mulberry trees are recommended for warmer, drier areas like California and Florida. Black mulberry trees are generally the smallest averaging 40 feet tall.
Korean mulberry (Morus australis) is a small tree, reaching only 20 to 30 feet at maturity. It features light green foliage that is slightly glossed and fruit that ranges in colour from almost white to deep red and purple. 8
Texas mulberry (Morus celtidifolia) trees are native to the Southwest and appear more
shrub-like, growing to a maximum height of just 25 feet. The edible fruits are red, purple, or nearly black.
Although various types of mulberries have been identified above, the recommendation is
that research is conducted to ascertain the varieties currently being grown locally. These https://www.britannica.com/plant/mulberry-plant https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/mulberry.html 8 https://www.thespruce.com/growing-mulberry-trees-5077354 6 7
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varieties would have already demonstrated an ability to grow well in our climate and produce quality fruit. Raspberries
The raspberry plant is a shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family, in the genus Rubus. Raspberry bushes can survive a range of climatic conditions and their berries are one of the
most popular in North America. The raspberry fruit has a very popular flavour (taste and aroma).
Types of Raspberries Two types of raspberries can be grown:
Summer-fruiting: these raspberries are more common, developing their fruit on last year’s growth. They bear one crop per season, in summertime (often June or July). Variants of the summer-fruiting raspberries are: -
‘Canby’: red berries; nearly thornless; recommended for cooler areas ‘Royalty’: purple berries; better for warmer areas
‘Jewel’: black berries; disease-resistant and great for warmer areas ‘Black Hawk’: black berries; heat and drought tolerant
Ever-bearing (also called fall-bearing or autumn-bearing): these raspberries produce
berries on new canes. They bear a fall crop and can also produce fruit the following summer.
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Recommended variety of ever-bearing raspberries are: Ever-bearing varieties are recommended because they produce more than one crop. -
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‘Heritage’: red berries; recommended for areas that experience extreme weather conditions throughout the year.
‘Plainsman’: red berries; does well in higher altitudes
‘Newburgh’: large, light red berries, medium firm, resistant to root rot
Like blueberries, raspberries are self-fertile needing only one bush to produce fruit. Ideally,
they are best pollinated by bees and will start producing fruit within a year of being planted. It is however recommended that mixing both types of berries extend and maximize the harvest period. 9 Blackberries
Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus), like raspberries, are very easy berries to grow. They belong to the Rosaceae family, in the genus Rubus. They are widely cultivated in Europe and North America. Blackberries are at their best flavour quality at full maturity, but as a seasonal crop, most blackberries are consumed in frozen or thermally processed forms (Skrovankova, Sona et al., 2015). Types of Blackberries Detailed below are the types of blackberries 10: 9
https://www.almanac.com/plant/raspberries
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https://ucanr.edu/sites/gardenweb/Berries/?uid=4&ds=466
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Erect thorny blackberries: these blueberry plants are vigorous and can tolerate heat, and the berries are firm. Some variants are Cherokee, Shawnee, and Cheyenne. •
• •
Cherokee starts producing in midseason (mid-June to mid-July) and the berries are
medium-large and black.
Cheyenne starts producing early and the berries are very large, firm, and attractive.
Shawnee produces in midseason, but it has a long fruiting season; the berries are very large, shiny black and medium firm.
Thornless blackberries grow as erect, semi-erect or trailing plants.
Erect thornless blackberries are very vigorous and productive, and they produce stems (also called canes) from their roots and crowns. Some variants are Chester, Hull Thornless, Navaho, and Arapaho. •
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Chester produces late in the season; the berries are large, round, deep black, and tart in flavour.
Hull Thornless produces mid to late season; the berries are large, firm, and have a
•
good, sweet flavour.
•
5 ft. plant bears from 8 to 10 quarts of blue-black berries.
Navaho is especially sweet, producing berries from late June to August. A single, 4Arapaho was created by the University of Arkansas, and it produces white spring flowers and deep-green foliage. It produces between late May and early June and is desirable for its particularly tiny seeds.
Semi-erect thornless blackberry plants require a trellis or other support because their canes are semi-erect. Some variants are Black Satin and Triple Crown. •
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Black Satin starts producing midseason (mid-June to mid-July); the berries are
large, shiny black fruit, which has a tart flavour, making it ideal for processing.
Triple Crown produces later in the season (Aug/Sept); its berries are very large black fruit.
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Trailing thornless blackberries have long canes that must be trellised for support. Trailing cultivar canes sprout from the plants' crowns. Some variants are: •
Boysen produces midseason (mid-June to mid-July); the berries are very large, deep
•
maroon in colour with a distinct flavour.
•
with good flavour.
•
with a unique flavour.
•
Kotata produces during midseason; the berries are large, glossy black, and firm Logan produces early in the season; the berries are medium to long, dark red, soft, Marion produces midseason; the berries are large, bright black, firm, and with
excellent flavour.
Ollalie produces midseason; the berries are medium to large, bright black, firm, and have good flavour.
All blackberries are perennials; the roots survive year after year. However, the top of the
plant above the soil is what we call a biennial. This means that the stems (canes) grow
vegetation for a year, bear fruit the next year and then die. However, every year the plant
sends up new canes to replace those that died. The pruning and clearing of spent canes are therefore very necessary, allowing fruit-bearing canes to take their place.
Whilst some varieties can be suggested as part of the berry expansion programme, we
recommend that the existing varieties here are identified by the relevant agency. These
varieties have shown adaptability to Jamaica’s climate and produce quality fruits in several parishes. Once the varieties are identified, management and cultural practices can be used to maximize yield.
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Strawberries Strawberries (genus Fragaria spp.) are cultivated worldwide in a range of climatic conditions. It belongs to the Rosaceae family and has become popular because of its desirable sweet taste and attractive aroma, with a smooth texture and red colour (Skrovankova, Sona et al., 2015). Types of Strawberries
There are three types of strawberry plants:
June-bearing varieties bear fruit all at once, usually over a period of three weeks. Day-
length sensitive, these varieties produce buds in the autumn, flowers, and fruits the following June, and runners during the long days of summer. Although called “Junebearing” or “June-bearers,” these strawberries bear earlier than June in warmer climates.
Everbearing varieties produce a big crop in spring, produce lightly in the summer, and then bear another crop in late summer/fall. These varieties form buds during the long days of summer and the short days of autumn. The summer-formed buds flower and fruit in autumn and the autumn-formed buds fruit the following spring.
Day-Neutral varieties are insensitive to day length and produce buds, fruits, and runners
continuously through the season if the temperature remains between 35° and 85°F (1° to 30°C). Production is less than that of June-bearers. 11
There is a range of day-neutral and short-day varieties being planted locally that have responded well to Jamaica’s climatic conditions. Day-neutral berries however have the
potential to initiate flower buds regardless of day lengths and they start producing fruits
12-14 days after being planted. Major producing strawberry-producing areas have been identified in Manchester and St. Andrew.
The varieties of strawberries that have been identified locally are: • •
Day neutral – Albion, Sweet Ann, San Andrea, and Seascape
Short Day – Strawberry Festival, Florida 90, Florida Brilliance, and Sweet Charlie
11 https://www.almanac.com/plant/strawberries
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Assess the quantities and values that are currently being imported for usage in the tourism and hospitality sector and the associated value Detailed below are the types of berries imported into Jamaica for the years 2019 and 2020: Imports of Berries 2019
Description
Kg
Cost ($) - JMD
US$
Strawberries, fresh
330,840.01
63,808,212.35
477,126.6013
Strawberries otherwise prepared or preserved whether or not
34,408.87
16,557,450.86
124,352.9688
Strawberries, frozen
containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or spirit not elsewhere specified or included
Raspberries blackberries mulberries and loganberries fresh
113,682.13
45,463,302.68
341,432.0998
66,949.12
16,997,643.98
127,753.7534
Cranberries bilberries and other fruits of the genus Vaccinium
22,202.35
12,539,462.11
93,925.17605
Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Vaccinium oxycoccos,
12,388.49
7,722,711.768
57,946.08892
Seeds of anise, badian, caraway or frnnel; juniper berries,
10,319.22
5,553,298.057
41,639.16638
Total
617,049.2
177,050,294.9
1,327,123.169
Raspberries blackberries mulberries loganberries black, white or red currants and gooseberries frozen fresh
Vaccinium vitis-idaea whether or not containing added sugar or
other sweetening matter or spirit neither crushed nor ground
26,259.01
8,408,213.084
62,947.31467
Table 3: Berry Imports 2019 (Source: AMID, MOAF)
Imports of Berries 2020 Description
kg
Cost ($) - JMD
US$
Strawberries fresh
171,372.72
44,386,832.85
313,313.4367
Strawberries otherwise prepared or preserved whether or not
30,094.15
12,932,387.74
92,039.15478
Strawberries frozen
containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or spirit not
elsewhere specified or included
Raspberries blackberries mulberries and loganberries fresh
Raspberries blackberries mulberries loganberries black white or
108,077.75
22,576.22
46,216.7
53,559,929.89
9,212,399.569 19,827,526.06
374,660.7123
65,357.59787 138,212.0251
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red currants and gooseberries frozen
Cranberries bilberries and other fruits of the genus Vaccinium
18,085.02
13,011,982.66
91,213.19353
Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Vaccinium oxycoccos,
76,278.27
10,283,227.7
73,098.97
50,429.19
6,133,334.864
43,229.83968
523,130.02
169,347,621.3
1,191,124.931
fresh
Vaccinium vitis-idaea whether or not containing added sugar or
other sweetening matter or spirit
Seeds of anise, badian, caraway or frnnel; juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground Total
Table 4: Berry Imports 2020 (Source: AMID, MOAF)
The accumulative quantity of berries imported in 2019 and 2020 is 1,140,179.22 kg with an associated value of JMD 346,397,916.2 (USD 2,518,248.10).
Each year represents its own important consumption cycle, but it should be noted that COVID would have impacted the decline in 2020 over 2019 due to hotel closures for approximately 2+ months.
Tourism Demand Study – 2019
Estimated Annual Quantities and Expenditures on Agricultural Products in the Tourism Sector •
The estimated demand for strawberries was 143,794 lbs., with an estimated value of JMD 249,911,584.00.
Estimated Leakage in the Agricultural Sector due to Imports by the Tourism Sector •
The estimated value of leakage due to imports of strawberries is JMD 142,806,620.00.
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The Road Map to Developing a Successful Berry Industry To successfully develop the berry industry in Jamaica growers should be encouraged to
invest long-term. Furthermore, it is also imperative that efforts are made to strengthen the existing knowledge base regarding existing cultivars - crop characteristics and fruit quality
and how to grow them well in a tropical climate to have a competitive advantage over
imported fruits. This of course will have to be driven by local research; this roadmap should introduce and detail intensive production technologies, providing the sector with modern technology and equipment, as well as stimulate the production and sale of high-
yielding planting material. Needs Analysis
A need analysis was undertaken by consulting with industry stakeholders to identify core industry development themes that would be of interest to potential berry growers. The analysis identified several areas that would support a Strategic Investment Plan:
• Research – to achieve a better-informed industry on new development and technology:
o Identify suitable high-quality varieties for growing across a wide season (availability of planting material)
o Growing systems
• Technical support/Extension services: including commercial resellers and agronomists, private agri-chemical companies, specialist advisors
• Supply Chain Management
• Marketing (Increase consumption in the main markets) • Growers’ training and capacity development
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Recommendations There is great value to be gained by the agriculture and tourism sectors, and by extension
Jamaica if the GOJ invests in the development of the berry industry. This is made evident by the dollar value spent on importing these produces. Therefore, the following
recommendations are being made to facilitate the development and expansion of the production of berries namely (Blackberry, Raspberry, Blueberry and Mulberry) in Jamaica: •
Public Private Partnership Varieties trial:
We are recommending that planting material be imported for the berry varieties reviewed
to establish an experimental plot in six (6) geographical locations across the island and
production data collected. The following locations are recommended, due to the microclimate that will facilitate the minimum chill hour requirements for berry production: -
St Andrew (Blue Mountain region),
Spaulding, Manchester area (Maidstone and Abbey Gardens) Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny
-
Albert Town, the upper area of Trelawny,
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Buff Bay Valley, and
Portland (the area bordering St Andrew Blue and John Crow Mountain in the Hampstead, St Mary.
These experimental plots would be established on private farm holdings of the selected
farmers and managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Research Division,
College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) and/or other tertiary institutions.
Each farmer would benefit from extension services provided by RADA for the best
outcomes and data collection. Additionally, what is produced can be presold/committed to
known tourism end users. To be fair, even from the reading of this report it's clear the trees
grow in these areas, even under less-than-ideal management conditions. So why not attempt to make a business even out of the test phase?
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•
Research
It was evident that the fruit quality of the berries identified in the study is comparable to, if
not better than, those imported. Therefore, it is recommended that the Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries undertake a study to determine the variety, pests and diseases that affect the fruits and plants and how to effectively manage them (Berry Production Manual).
This recommendation is particularly important as research and development play a critical role in the innovation process. It is essentially an investment in technology and future capabilities that is adaptable to local conditions. •
Training of extension to effect Knowledge Transfer
Noting that the commercial production of the specified berries will be new to Jamaica, it is essential that the technical capacity of extension services be developed, to facilitate
knowledge transfer to farmers. •
Investment Profile to stimulate investment
The Economic Planning and Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and/or individuals with specialization in the area could develop investment profiles for the specific berries. This will have a significant impact on the investment and development of the industry.
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Conclusion It is evident that the berries can be successfully grown in Jamaica and that there is high demand for these fruits locally. In the case of strawberries, it has also been proven that with knowledge, berries can be grown competitively in terms of price and quality to those
imported.
Berry farming as a business can be lucrative and an economic springboard for many rural
communities across the island. This has however been infringed on due to the informal
nature in which development work is being done. The availability of data or the lack thereof has also prevented the enhancement of production.
We can conclude that to grow the industry, it is therefore imperative that research will
have to be done to identify the best-suited locations and select the varieties that are best suited for climatic conditions. There also needs to be greater collaboration between the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ extension and research services to facilitate the
empowerment of technical staff to validate and transfer knowledge to farmers.
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Reference Center for Leadership and Governance, 2015. Tourism Demand Study. A project of the Ministry of Tourism – Tourism Linkages Network. Department of Government, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies Mona.
Center for Leadership and Governance, 2019. Tourism Demand Study. A project of the Ministry of Tourism – Tourism Enhancement Fund. Department of Government, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies Mona.
Grant, D., 2018. The Development of the Berry Industry in Jamaica. A Project of the Ministry of Tourism – Tourism Linkages Network. Kingston: Synergy Business Solutions. MoAF, 2022. Annual Performance Report 2021-2022. Kingston: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Skrovankova S, Sumczynski D, Mlcek J, Jurikova T, Sochor J. Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Different Types of Berries. Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Oct 16;16(10):24673706. DOI: 10.3390/ijms161024673. PMID: 26501271; PMCID: PMC4632771. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4632771/
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Appendices Copies of Correspondence sent to government entities requesting data
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NOTES
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