CATEGORY:AGRICULTURE ------------------------ INSIDE GRENADA WEDNESDAY August 29,2007 by Fitzroy James Market Summary: With the resumption of shipments to Trinidad exports for the week increased to 30,686 lbs compared to 3,805 the previous week. Exports to all destinations increased. Banana exports moved from 500 boxes the last shipment to 600 boxes. Exports to Canada increased by 57% and to the UK by 55% over the previous week. Shipments to Tropifruit, UK, were suspended during the week due to disagreement over prices. Shipments to the UK were made to an alternative Buyer, Tropical Produce on an advance payment arrangement. The number of product lines exported increased from five (5) the previous week to eleven (11) this week. New product lines exported for the first time this financial year were avocadoes and water nuts to the UK. Exports of bananas, June plums and mangoes all increased over the previous week. Market Developments: Despite the familiar complaint that our farmers cannot find markets for their produce, the reality is that we are unable to satisfy the current demand for produce from Grenada both on the international market (US; Canada; UK) and the regional market (Barbados; Trinidad). The question is are we focusing on the crops for which there is strong and growing demand, or are we planting what we want with no concern about market. a. Demand for increased supplies from Grenada on International Markets: Strong interest has been expressed in the UK and Canada markets for the following items from Grenada: breadfruit; callaloo; bluggoe; rock fig; plantain; gros michelle and sugar apple. MNIB will be contacting farmers during the coming weeks in an attempt to source these items. b. Underexploited opportunity on Regional Market: Trinidad Market update: Serious: Demand for bananas now is 700 boxes from current buyer and 200 from a new buyer. This is in addition to 500 boxes for the local market. Increased demand is expected for bananas from Grenada with the damage done to the sector in St. Lucia and Dominica. The impact of hurricane Dean and other hurricanes in the region should lead us to reevaluate our strategy for banana production in the islands. Rarely are all of the islands seriously affected in any hurricane season. A risk management strategy could be to encourage optimum production in each of the OECS countries. This would mitigate the risk of total destruction of the industry when any one country is seriously damaged. Our buyers in Trinidad are now showing interest in other items such as Golden Apple, Ginnep, Avocado, Plantain, Pumpkin, Sapodilla, Soursop. c. Other Developments: MNIB participated in a Consultation on Draft International Plant Protection Convention Standards hosted by the MoA pest management Unit. These standards are of critical importance in the conduct of regional and international marketing. MNIB is finding the Markets. The question is: Do we have products to sell?