Michi farmers' market sets trend for others

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

THE MINISTRY of Agriculture and Fisheries has entered into private-sector partnerships to promote the farmers' markets initiative it launched last year through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). One such successful partnership is with Michi Super Centre, located at 2-4 Savannah Avenue off the Washington Boulevard, St Andrew, where a farmers' market will be held today.

Launched in response to a vegetable glut, the markets soon took off, doing well to the extent that they presented logistical problems for organisers in respect of the need for parking, booth space and placement, etc. The agriculture ministry's Old Hope Road lawn was a very popular farmers' market, as was the HEART Academy in Portmore, St Catherine, to the extent that they outgrew the demand for goods and services.

"Originally, we were working together, but they are now on their own," Janette Lawrence, RADA's principal director, field services/operations, told The Gleaner. However, the agency is still partnering with Michi and other private-sector entities in Negril and is, in fact, seeking sponsorship for all its farmers' markets and new ones where practical.

The agency is particularly impressed with how things have gone at Michi, which has emerged as the permanent site for the St Andrew farmers' market. "If there is a glut and needs dictate that we should open elsewhere too, then we will, but it is the (permanent) place," Lawrence told The Gleaner.

Creating a template

She hinted that operations at the Washington Boulevard location could set the template for other such partnerships with private-sector entities. "We assist in trying to get the right farmers and ensuring that they get there on time. We insist that they wear their farmers' ID at all times and we ensure that the people who take part are genuine farmers, not hagglers."

RADA monitors the event with at least one member of the agriculture ministry staff staying the entire duration of the farmers' market to ensure that all goes well at the event, which is now a big winner for Michi as well.

"We have remained on-board. RADA was looking for a home (for its farmers' market) and, with our involvement in the retail industry, which we have been supporting for years, being a supermarket, we saw this as another opportunity to continue supporting our farmers," Dwight Ferguson, customer service told The Gleaner.

However, this decision was driven in part by demand from Michi customers who live in the surrounding neighbourhoods and complained they were missing out on the many deals at the farmers' markets, which were too far away, according to Ferguson.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com