Advance Farms stages book fair in Martha Brae

Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer

MARTHA BRAE, Trelawny:Advance Farms Papaya Company of Martha Brae, owners of Martha's Best papayas, staged its inaugural book fair to assist children from neighbouring schools last Saturday.

More than 3,000 books were distributed free of cost to children during the event, which was held at the company's Martha Brae base in Trelawny. The company had received the books, teaching aids, toys, and footwear from some of its international clients.

Nine schools as well as community members were invited to attend the event and to choose the books and items needed. Books on various subjects - from early primary to the high school level, ranging from mathematics, to English, to reading, and to information technology - were distributed.

"This is the start as the donors have pledged to continue as long as it is successful. While the fair is a new venture, the company is used to contributing to schools and has given supplies to some of these learning institutions before," export manager at Advance Farms, Michelle Fletcher, told Western Focus.

Fletcher also said she is hoping that the fair will grow so that invitations can be extended to other educational institutions and members of surrounding communities.

Advanced Farms was founded in 1991. The company started out with cultivation on two hectares of land and now has production operations in Jamaica and Mexico.