Ochi gets taste of 'Eat Jamaican' campaign
Published:Friday | April 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
BUCKFIELD, St Ann:
THE EAT Jamaican roadshow promoting the message 'Grow what we eat - Eat what we grow', reached Ocho Rios, St Ann on Wednesday with Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr Christopher Tufton reiterating the importance of Jamaicans consuming more local produce.
The roadshow, the second in a series of nine that have been scheduled over a three-month period, got off to a slow start at the Buckfield playing field with Tufton saying the turnout was not as good as he would have liked it to be.
Partners for the roadshow, Wisynco, Jamaica Broilers and Trade Winds, ensured that those present had a chance to sample quality Jamaican products, while there were giveaways courtesy of National Bakery and Island Grill.
aim of campaign
The campaign, aimed at increasing local production and encouraging consumers to make healthy choices by eating local produce, fruits and vegetables, was launched by the minister on March 1 and had its first show in Mandeville, Manchester, on March 30.
On Wednesday, Tufton told the media that the campaign offers economic and health opportunities for Jamaicans.
"Firstly, it puts people to work. There are hundreds and thousands of farm families that depend on agriculture to survive, rural life depends on agriculture. So you have 200,000 farmers, a family of four or five, you could have 800,000 to a million people who depend on it," said Tufton.
He added: "Secondly, local is fresh, and local, more often than not, is healthier than imported, because when you talk about local you're talking about things that just came out of the ground or just reaped. Eating fresh is healthier, our root crops, our vegetables have much better nutritional content."
According to the minister, sweet potato, for example, which contains complex carbohydrate, is better than rice for people who have diabetes.
The minister revealed that a study conducted by his ministry showed that 45 per cent of Jamaica's food import bill can be replaced by locally produced food.
The campaign is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and supported by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.