Callaloo vendor hopes to expand business

SPALDINGS, Clarendon:

CALLALOO VENDOR Patrick Forbes may have three jobs, but the one he loves with a passion is that of being a callaloo vendor. He has been selling the leafy vegetable in the rural township of Spaldings, Clarendon for more than a decade.

"I am a higgler, am a farmer and I am a singer. The people call me callaloo man, they call me rabbit man because I also sell rabbits," said Forbes.

He explained that he loves cultivating callaloo for sale to his many customers. However, he lamented that there is no municipal market in that town from where he could sell his goods.

"I need a market from which I can sell my callaloo so that I can make what I am doing look good and proper. I am currently selling on the street of the town and, to me it does not look right," noted the callaloo vendor.

Forbes pointed out that he chose to do business in that rural town more than 10 years ago because he loves the area and the people. He added that, although he produces his own callaloo, there are times when he has to purchase the leafy vegetable, especially during the dry season, just to satisfy his many customers.

"My callaloo is nice and healthy. It's cleaned properly and so people gravitate towards me, all because of those reasons," explained Forbes.

Packaging

He said people make many purchases from him because he conducts his business properly and provides the best for all his customers. The callaloo vendor added that he wants to expand his business in his backyard, to complement a mini zoo he has at his home.

"I want to have flowers. I want to deal with the callaloo. I want to have a go-cart thing as well; and this is because I want to have everything at home," noted Forbes.

He said he intends to start the packaging of callaloo from home in an effort to have that aspect of his business expanded, so that he would be able to distribute the vegetable to supermarkets in and around his area and provide jobs for the jobless youths in his community.

rural@gleanerjm.com