Repeated calls for more locally grown produce will now be met by a 100 per cent Bahamian owned and operated farm that has undertaken to provide an alternative to imported gourmet tomatoes, bell peppers and lettuce.
Lucuyan Tropical Produce LTD (LTP) unveiled its state-of-the-art hydroponics greenhouse during a press reception at the Nelson Road facility on Wednesday. Conceived as a means of providing increased quality and quantity to a market lacking the same, the company will employ the hydroponics method, which will reportedly optimise purity, cleanliness, flavour and the colour of produce.
According to LTP, the greenhouse is the single largest investment in the history of The Bahamas’ agricultural sector; and is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and South American region. “We have a product here that can revitalise, regenerate the agricultural pillar of the economy that the country has lacked for so long” said company president R Cameron Symonette.
LTP Senior Executive Earl D. Deveaux said the company’s impact on Bahamian farmers would be negligible. “With the products we are growing, our competition is Mexico, Israel, Holland, Canada and the Western United States.” He said the only direct connection to Bahamian farmers would be in green peppers and beefsteak tomatoes grown in January, February, and March.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government V Alfred Gray said the launch of LTP constituted “a red-letter day in the life of the agricultural community, in particular a red-letter day for this company and The Bahamas.” He added: “Once this farm becomes production high, there will be no need for the hotels to come to my ministry with excuses for not being able to find (locally) some of the produce that we now import.”
Mr Gray, who has visited the facility throughout various stages of its year long construction process said once the company insured competitive pricing, there was no reason why it would not replace a large percentage of the imported products.
He congratulated the company for being a pioneer in agriculture adding “if there is one thing that will come out of all of this is the fact that there are Bahamians who are willing to invest in agriculture in The Bahamas.”
Mr Symonette said the company would bring added stability to the country’s foreign reserves by substituting imports. It was stated that LTP would continue to work closely with the Central Bank to coordinate exchange control for the second phase of the project.
The company presently has 15 employees, 14 of whom are Bahamian, and plans to extend to 30 in the coming weeks. Once fully operational the 6.5 acre Dutch designed facility will employ up to 150 persons. LTP has already began testing some of its produce and according to Mr Deveaux has received an overwhelmingly favourable response.
LTP products, including its many different lettuce variations, will become available to the wholesale and retail market in September. The company also anticipates future expansion of its produce to other fruits and vegetables.
Raymond Kongwa,The Nassau Guardian
