The Tribune

By RIEL MAJOR

BAHAMAS Agricultural & Industrial Corporation Executive Chairman Michael Foulkes announced yesterday the re-opening of the pop-up farmer’s market.

The Gladstone location will re-open Saturday from 8am to 3pm.

Mr Foulkes said he knows their customers have been eagerly awaiting their return to the main branch on Gladstone Road and highlighted the staff "(giving) almost all of their Saturdays in 2018" to provide quality produce to Bahamian families.

"The staff here at BAIC are looking forward to our second year of the pop-up farmer's market, seeing so many of our regular customers for the first time in the New Year and continuing to provide families with high quality, fresh produce that are always Bahamian grown, affordably priced and very accessible.

"They feel good and warm about what we are doing for Bahamian families at the Farmers Market."

The chairman emphasised their progress in the growth of farmers last year. He said in the beginning of 2018, under 100 active farmers were involved in the programme and fortunately, at the end of last year, active farmers in the programme increased to 220.

He said: "We are pleased to state that about 73 per cent of all the expenses last year were payments made directly to our farmers. Every month last year they received a cheque from BAIC in total almost $200,000 in 2019. We anticipate that those payments will be increased by about $60,000 in 2019. For the most part those would be direct payments to our family island farmers and their families.

"Our family island farmers are so excited about the pop-up farmers market and the marketing possibilities of their produce that some have planted winter crop seeds just to supply us in 2019. We are undoubtedly increasing the capacity of farming in the Bahamas, directly contributing to our self-sufficiency and most importantly, creating a reliable market for our farmers."

BAIC plans to continue the pop-up farmers market in 15 different areas in New Providence and to visit Grand Bahama at least once per quarter this year.

The chairman restated the organization's aim is to continue selling high quality produce at affordable prices to Bahamians.

Mr Foulkes said: "We expect that by the last quarter of the year, the pop-up farmers market in Grand Bahama will not be owned or operated by BAIC but instead, a Grand Bahama group. We will only source produce thereby doing our part to empower the local community to own and operate the farmer's market there."

BAIC invites the public to stay updated by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mybaic.