The Tribune

The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation’s (BAIC) latest Pop-Up Farmer’s Market has been hailed by eastern New Providence customers delighted to see it “closer to home”.

BIAC and the Potter’s Cay Dock Produce Exchange moved the event from Gladstone Road to RM Bailey Park on Saturday, leading attendees to describe it as a “smashing success” in subsequent feedback.

Bishop Gregory Collie, BAIC’s chairman, said: “We have been getting some really good response from patrons. They are happy we are on RM Bailey Park and, in fact, they are trying to convince us to stay here.”

Customers purchased Bahamian grown fresh fruits and vegetables such as tomatos, cucumbers, butternut squash, okra, sweet potato, green pepper, hot pepper, goat pepper, breadfruit, papaya, water melon, banana, avocado pear, plantain, coconut, sugarcane and guinep.

To spark the revival of agriculture on the Family Islands, BAIC is encouraging farmers in Abaco, Andros, Cat Island, Eleuthera and Exuma to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in good quality and quantities that can be sold at the Farmer’s Market.

John Burrows, BAIC’s manager of agricultural business development at BAIC, also encouraged New Providence farmers to apply for stalls and sell their produce at the Farmer’s Market. “BAIC is here to help the farmers,” Mr Burrows said, “There is no competition with the farmers, but there is assistance for the farmers.”

The next Pop-Up Farmers market will be held at Yamacraw in eastern New Providence on Saturday, July 27.