Farmers' market a success in St Mary

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' farmers' market got off to a good start last Friday on the grounds of the All-Island Banana Growers' Association in Trinity, Port Maria, St Mary. The event attracted scores of customers who turned out to purchase ground provisions at a reduced cost. The market was the vehicle for 20 registered farmers from the parishes of St Mary and St Ann to get rid of 25,000 pounds of food items which they had in abundance.

The idea for the farmers' market originated within the ministry and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) from an over-supply and recovery programme. The ministry saw it fit to aid farmers who had a surplus of vegetable products such as cabbage, tomatoes and carrots.

Through RADA, farmers who had a glut of food items were identified to participate in the programme which gave way to the market. Though the market is not a calendar event, it will be evaluated in April when the over-supply would have diminished.

The farmers' market is also being held in other parishes such as St Catherine, St Andrew, St James, Manchester and Portland.