Entrepreneur, Karen Tamasa, prepares a plot of land to be used in the cultivation of vegetables. Tamasa supplies packaged vegetables to supermarkets in Kingston and St Mary. - Contributed

Her entrance into the agricultural sector was purely by choice. Now, she is reaping real rewards from making that decision and has achieved more than many twice her age.

Twenty-one-year-old Karen Tamasa is not your typical female. While other young women her age seek to get an education, she has become an avid businesswoman with a purpose, one who aspires to satisfy the local market with seasoned pre-packaged vegetables through her company, Easy Way Farm, located in Highgate, St Mary.

Her interest in business, particularly agriculture, stemmed not only from a love for the sector, but from exposure to the industry through active involvement with the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and her alma mater, the St Mary Technical High School.

Karen operated her business in Highgate while she was still a student at the St Mary Technical High School, which meant focusing on the Caribbean Examination Council's examinations and her entrepreneurial exploits, all in the same breathe.

First taste

Reminiscing, the youngster said her first taste of what has now become a successful business commenced with only 25 chickens donated to her by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs.

The chickens were then fattened through savings from her lunch money and donations of chicken feed from her mother. After maturity, the poultry was then sold in order to replenish the coop.

Gradually, Karen said vegetables, such as organic calaloo, cabbage, carrots and pak choi, were incorporated into the mix, which has now become a booming business for the youth.

"At first, it was just an ordinary thing being done in the backyard. After being involved and knowing that agriculture can really be a successful business in Jamaica, I chose to go that route," she said

Karen further explained that she has been promoting the self-titled brand, Easy Way Vegetables, for the past five years. Currently, she supplies value-added products including Easy Way Easy Mixed Vegetables, Calaloo, Chop-suey and seasoned Cabbage to renowned supermarket chains in both Kingston and St Mary.

Karen's six-member staff is required to man the five-acre farm, which, apart from supplying vegetables, generates some 500 packages of produce that are cleaned, cut and seasoned with authentic Jamaican spices for weekly distribution to her clients.

"So far, we have not had any incidence of food poisoning or any incidents for that matter," she boasted, while adding that persons both locally and internationally have registered their approval of the product.

Armed with this fact, Tamasa said her next move was to ensure that her brand is available on supermarket shelves throughout the island and in time, accessible internationally.

Support system

Despite the delicate balance between life and business and the challenges of being a young female farmer, Karen revealed that all the issues that may arise are faced with a positive attitude.

Her strength in challenging times is further enhanced by the support system afforded to her by friends, family, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and her employees.

"There are times when I think that I cannot be bothered with the business anymore, they [employees] always remind me of the positive things that have happened and the benefits that can come ... these things [challenges] only come to test my strength," said Karen.

With spiralling food prices both on the international and local markets, Karen maintains that agriculture can become the lifeblood of the economy and a lucrative business to anyone.

"I believe agriculture is also for persons who are qualified even with a doctorate, especially with the hike in food prices," she said.

Karen also tried to point out to those who attach a stigma to agriculture that the field is not dirty work. "Every job involves getting your hands dirty, even if you are a doctor or a secretary," she joked.

Karen hopes to expand the Easy Way brand into uncharted waters as she is currently eyeing the possibilities of packaging tomatoes, plantains and bananas for the domestic market.

In 2006, the young entrepreneur won the Prime Minister's National Youth Award for Excellence in Agriculture. She is currently the St Mary Farm Queen, and has her eyes set on copping the coveted National Farm Queen title at the 56th staging of the Denbigh Industrial and Agricultural Show in August.