Africka Stephens | Tomato juice in schools? A right step in school nutrition

March is officially observed as Nutrition Month, a time when national attention turns to the critical link between what we eat and how we live. It is therefore both fitting and forward-thinking that the Government has proposed introducing a locally produced tomato-based juice into Jamaica’s school nutrition programme. This initiative is more than a creative response to agricultural surplus; it represents a timely and necessary intervention in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among our nation’s children.

Recently, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green revealed that his ministry is developing a tomato-based beverage for distribution in schools. The product, now undergoing formulation and soon to be taste-tested among students, is being developed in collaboration with an agro-processor and in dialogue with Education Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon. The objective is straightforward: reduce children’s sugar intake, support local farmers, and strengthen the link between agriculture and institutional markets.

This is a commendable and strategic move.

For years, civil society organisations such as the HEART Foundation of Jamaica, JYAN, UNICEF Jamaica, and the Fi We Children Foundation have advocated for stronger school nutrition standards and healthier food environments. The proposed tomato-based drink aligns squarely with the National School Nutrition Policy and reflects a broader governmental recognition that prevention, particularly among youth, must be central to public health strategy.

THE NCD CRISIS AMONG YOUTH

According to UNICEF, Jamaica is facing a troubling rise in NCDs that increasingly affect children and adolescents. More than one in three Jamaican children is at risk of food-related illness. Obesity, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes are now emerging in classrooms, fuelled by a food environment dominated by sugary, highly processed products and aggressive child-directed marketing. With NCDs the leading cause of death, reducing high-sugar beverages in schools and replacing them with nutritious, locally produced options is essential.

Policy in Motion

On May 9, 2025, Minister Morris Dixon tabled the National School Nutrition Policy in the Upper House, committing to ensure that all students have access to safe, nutritious foods while limiting the sale and promotion of sugary drinks and ultra-processed products within schools. The policy applies to early childhood, primary, secondary, and special education institutions both public and private.

The proposed tomato juice initiative is a practical expression of the commitment to provide every child, regardless of socio-economic background, with food that fosters health and learning, as affirmed by the minister.

Policies must extend beyond paper. They must manifest in canteens, tuck shops, and school feeding programmes. A tomato-based beverage, if properly formulated to balance taste and nutrition, could become a visible symbol of Jamaica’s shift toward healthier school environments.

Supporting Farmers – Strengthening Food Security

The proposal’s strength also lies in its economic logic. Jamaica periodically experiences gluts in tomato production, leaving farmers vulnerable to price crashes and post-harvest losses. By creating a stable institutional market through the school system, the Government is cushioning farmers against volatility while reducing food waste.

This approach aligns with Jamaica’s broader food security strategy – promoting local consumption, reducing import dependency, and strengthening linkages between agriculture and public institutions. It transforms surplus into opportunity.

In doing so, the initiative demonstrates that public health and economic development are not competing priorities. They can reinforce each other.

A COMPLEMENT TO FISCAL MEASURES

The proposal also complements the Government’s recent fiscal measures targeting sugary drinks. During the budget debate, Finance Minister Fayval Williams announced an additional two Jamaican cents per millilitre Special Consumption Tax on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages, whether sweetened with sugar or non-sugar alternatives. This tax, collected from manufacturers and importers, is designed to discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks.

Taxation alone, however, cannot shift behaviour. It must be paired with accessible, appealing alternatives. If sugary beverages become more expensive but healthier options remain scarce, the impact will be limited.

The tomato-based drink offers that alternative.

By discouraging unhealthy choices while promoting nutritious ones, the Government is pursuing a more comprehensive strategy. It signals seriousness about tackling NCDs, not only through regulation, but through innovation.

THE TASTE TEST AND CULTURAL SHIFT

The initiative’s success will depend on student acceptance. Minister Green has acknowledged that products labelled ‘healthy’ sometimes face resistance. This is where thoughtful formulation, engaging branding, and inclusive taste-testing become essential.

Young people must feel involved in shaping the products intended for them. If executed well, the tomato-based beverage could redefine how children perceive healthy drinks, not as punishment, but as part of a vibrant Jamaican food culture rooted in local produce.

Healthy Jamaica – Prosperous Nation

“Healthy Jamaica is a Prosperous Nation” is not simply rhetoric; it reflects economic reality. NCDs cost billions in healthcare expenditure and lost productivity. Preventing disease in childhood is far more cost-effective than treating complications in adulthood.

Introducing a tomato-based drink into schools will not solve Jamaica’s nutrition crisis overnight. But it represents a decisive step in the right direction one that bridges agriculture, education, health, and economic resilience. It signals that the Government understands that the fight against NCDs must begin early, that farmers deserve stable markets, and that schools are powerful sites for cultural change. If this initiative succeeds, it will show that smart, coordinated policy can nourish both bodies and livelihoods, strengthening the foundation for a healthier, more prosperous Jamaica.

Africka Stephens is executive founder and attorney-in-waiting of the Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF), a registered non-governmental organisation advancing child and youth rights. info@fiwechildren.org. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com