Growth & Jobs | Women run things at JP Farms

THE WOMEN workers at JP Farms in Fort George, St Mary, are doing an excellent job of nurturing bananas, plantains, and pineapple in their care while also fostering positive attitudes towards agriculture, in the process promoting food security at both the local and global levels. Their dedication, resilience, and attention to detail are key pillars in ensuring the quality of produce and maintaining efficiency in farm operations, according to JP Farms General Manager Mario Figueroa.

“Our company stands out for its significant female representation in a sector that is not traditionally female-dominated. In fact, we generally have more females than males in our packhouse operations and administrative roles. In the realm of precision agriculture, where meticulousness is paramount, our female colleagues excel in providing the level of precision and attention to detail we require. This is not to say that the males do not do this at all, but I have found that their strengths are displayed in other ways,” Figueroa pointed out.

This is consistent with a report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that women are fast becoming the face of farming globally, with the number of female farmers and those in production houses worldwide having tripled since the 1990s. Despite this, women remain largely underrepresented in commercial agriculture. This is not so at JP Farms, where women account for more than one-third of the workforce, largely dominating the packhouse teams.

For Figueroa, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the agricultural industry spanning across Latin America and the Caribbean, this is quite significant. “In my experience, about 12 per cent, if that many, females worked in those agricultural businesses, but here at JP Farms, our packhouses are 99 to 100 per cent females. Our office roles are female-dominated, and we even have some female workers in the fields doing deleafing and deflowering.”

He continued: “I salute all of our female team members because they are nurturing positivity, and their expertise extends beyond agriculture. They foster a spirit of community at JP Farms that enhances teamwork and promotes a positive work culture. Traditionally, women are often the ones responsible for the food and nutrition in the household, and here at JP Farms, they also play a crucial role in food security for Jamaica and the pursuit of sustainable food systems. We salute them this Farmer’s Month and all year round.”

Karen Johnson, packer at the JP Farms banana packhouse team, highlighted the meticulous attention to quality control practised by the women. “Ensuring the bananas are carefully selected and positioned in the boxes is important as consumers rightfully expect the best. The slightest bruise on the produce could pose a problem, so our responsibility is to nurture the produce up to the point where it is ready for transport,” she explained.

With nearly three decades of experience in the agricultural sector, Donette Richards-Pierce, known fondly as ‘Miss Tattie’, exemplifies the commitment and resilience of women in agriculture. As one of two female packhouse supervisors, she underscores the significance of on-the-job training and education in empowering women like herself. Having started out at the JP Farms Eastern Banana Estates in St Thomas as a general staff member, Richards-Pierce transitioned into her current role as supervisor in St Mary, where she has remained dedicated to educating her colleagues on matters of agricultural best practices and their important role in the nation’s food security.

Figueroa commends her data-collection skills and ability to unify her team, factors he proudly attributes to her excelling in her current role.

Richards-Pierce remarked jovially: “The skills we cultivate here go beyond just agriculture. We take on roles as mothers, head cooks, and ‘banana washers’ – a role I play with gusto. We also find ourselves assuming the roles of educators and counsellors in and out of the workplace. All of those skills help us in our careers and daily lives.”

Kadine Jordine, a recent graduate of Earth University in Costa Rica and one of the youngest team members at the JP Farms team at just 21 years old, completed her internship nearly two years ago with the business and now serves as their technical programme coordinator. She works closely with Miss Tattie and the supervisory team to further the business’ goal of continued education by leading the implementation of crop-management and agricultural-intelligence software.