Max E. Lambie, Contributor
UNITED STATES Ambassador Stanley McLelland should be commended highly for lobbying the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration says Warren Prestwidge, owner of Tweedside Processors, a leading ackee exporter in Clarendon.
In fact, Mr. Prestwidge hinted that the 19-member processors group is thinking of presenting the ambassador with a citation. But the immediate benefit of the lifting of the prohibition of ackee in the U.S. market is the psychological repair to the U.S.-Jamaica relationship that had been severely strained by a number of incidents including the termination of the preferential status of Caribbean bananas and the restrictions on poultry meat entering the U.S.
Caribbean politicians and civil servants have been tactlessly vocal in hurling accusations against the U.S. administration. Getting the U.S. ambassador so deeply involved this time, however, should establish a platform from which to conduct other breakthroughs. It is also understood that much credit is also due to Dr. Andre Gordon of the firm Technological Solutions which performed most of the scientific analysis that the U.S. regulators required.
Deservedly and rightly exuberant, in a recent press conference, Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, noted that Costa Rica and Mexico are reported to be planning to plant ackee groves but he expresssed confidence that Jamaica would be able to withstand the competition. That overconfidence is basis for concern, however.
For one, it will reinforce the complacency that has caused the country to underestimate the neighbouring Central American competition for so many agro products including sugar, tobacco, bananas, pimento, ginger, sorrel and pineapples. Specifically, the present supply that is exported to Canada and the United Kingdom comes from 250 wild acres.
Though two processors will be initially licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture to export ackee they will be supplied by a base that is just able to serve the existing demand. New acreage needs to be brought into production in order to satisfy the opening into the U.S. market.
It is also true that the Ministry of Agriculture has foreseen the deficiency and has established a nursery for the production of seedlings. But it takes at least four years before seedlings can produce meaningful yields. In the meantime, Costa Rica's groves will come into maturity in two years whereas the price of the limited supply could escalate to untenable market levels during the maturation period. The Costa Ricans have proven to be adept at emulating California-type methods of producing dwarf orchard groves. Jamaica is yet to produce much from orchards other than the citrus at United Estates in Bog Walk and papaya at Valley Farms in Trelawny.
In ackee, Jamaica Producers has planted 90 acres at Agualta Vale which is just about ready to go into production. The Hart Group has also planted another 90 acres at Good Hope, Trelawny and the Newmans of Bog walk have established 30 acres. These three total 210 acres whereas 750 acres are required to meet the potential of the U.S. ethnic market.
Jamaica has the reputation of opening markets for others. For example, Costa Rica is now the primary producer of the escallion that is the base product in jerk seasoning and hence are the prime benefiaries of the explosion in demand even by visiting tourists. The challenge in ackee will come from two ex-Jamaican plantocrats who have found a hospitable reception and assistance in Cost Rica.
Consequently, what needs to be done to ensure that the potential of exporting ackee from Jamaica achieves its potential is to establish the production plan to achieve that goal. The myriad problems in agriculture cannot be wished away by exuberance.
Export potential for ackees
Present employment =90,000 persons
Price of Present exports = US$60/case
Yield = 144 Cases of canned Fruit/ acre
Value of Present Exports = US$1.8m
No of cans per box = 24 (8 oz tins)
Potential Export = 1000 acres
Trees per acre = 72
Potential Export = 900,000 cases
Boxes per acre = 144
Potential Export = US$6m
Boxes per tree = 10
New Acres = 1000 -250- 210 = 540
Present Export = 300,000 cases
Source: Donald Donaldson, Fruits of Jamaica)
