doTERRA, FarmupJamaica and Red Stripe Project Grow tackle Jamaican Ginger shortfall with Wine and Beer

“We are absolutely thrilled to be here in beautiful Jamaica planting some of the best ginger in the world, and we want our efforts here to impact the lives of Jamaicans in this community,"

Co-founder and Executive Vice-President of doTERRA, Gregory Cook in an interview on Thursday January 22^nd 2015 with the Jamaica Gleaner on the growing of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) 

It is truly a rare sight indeed to see white people hard at work in a country mostly ruled by black people.

But that was indeed the case on Thursday January 22^nd 2015 when Hundreds of Americans from Utah-based group doTERRA who have an interest in selling essential Oils, decided to farm up some ten (10) acres of previously forested land in Haddo, Westmoreland in Jamaica to grow Ginger as stated in the article “Ginger Planting Project Successful”, Published Tuesday January 27, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Partnered with New York based NGO (Non Governmental Organization) Farm Up Jamaica, doTERRA, being the world’s largest producer of essential oils was basically in Jamaica to secure their small plot of land to organize and grow Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) to supply the growing demand for Essential Oil made from Ginger (Zingiber Officinale).

To be honest it wasn't all Americans; a few visitors came from France, China, Japan, and Mexico. Of particular note was a participant from North Idaho, Stephanie Newton, who also had her three (3) month old baby Rudie, tag along to the farm with her.

Founder and Chairman of Farm Up Jamaica Neil Curtis wants this to go national, quote: “Today proves that we can replicate this concept on a bigger scale right here in Jamaica many times over, and we are certainly looking for more support from across the Jamaican Diaspora to enable us to do more”.

So why come to Jamaica? Apparently, we’re not producing enough Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)!

doTERRA and Farm up Jamaica – Why Jamaican shortfall in Ginger Production means you gotta do it yourself

Apparently, Jamaica isn't doing enough to increase their Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) production. Achieving 5% of Global Demand by 2019 is a long ways off as noted in my blog article entitled “ Ministry of Agriculture say Ginger can achieve 5% of Global demand by 2019 - Boost to Ginger Farming Coming as it’s easy to Grow”, so they decided to come to Jamaica and do it themselves.

At the end of the growing period, which is about eight to ten (8 to 10) months, they'll come back to Jamaica again, harvest the Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) themselves and use it to make Essential Oils that they'll export to some fifty (50) countries around the world.

Teenagers from Knockalva Agricultural School in nearby Ramble, close to Haddo, Westmoreland, came by to give a helping hand. doTERRA plans to hand over management of the Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Farm to the students of the Knockalva Agricultural School until their return in the next eight to ten (8 to 10) months in time for harvest.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) farm management is a good experience for them, as it'll give them experience in running a Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Farm Project as well as to learn from the doTERRA participants the best methods of making Essential Oil and other VAP (Value Added Products) from Ginger (Zingiber Officinale).

GOJ and Ginger Production – Red Stripe could also boost acreage for their Ginger Wine and Beer

For their part, doTERRA is quite forthcoming with their knowledge; the girls of Montego Bay High School have benefited from a training workshop held by the Essential Oil people.

It'll be interesting to see how the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) may seek to expand on this interest in Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) and Tumeric.

It would be interesting for Red Stripe to include Ginger along with Cassava under their Project Grow Initiative, as they already produce a Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) flavoured Red Stripe whose demand may be steadily growing as predicted in my blog article entitled “Red Stripe's Sorrel Beer - Opens up the Possibility of a Jamaican Fruit Tree of Beer Flavours”.

Jamaica has a long way to go to even reach the 1,460 hectares (3607.7 acres) to be under Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) production in order to produce the 21,000 metric tons (tonnes) needed to achieve 5% of Global world demand for Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) by 2019.

doTERRA and Farm Up Jamaica is an indication that there is strong interest in Jamaican Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)!

Here’s the link:

Farm Up Jamaica

doTERRA