KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, has welcomed the entry of CB Group into the fresh produce market in Jamaica through its new company, Imagination Farms.

Speaking at the launch of the new company at Hope Zoo yesterday, the agriculture minister applauded CB Group on its “bold initiative”.

“What we are witnessing here tonight has not taken place just over a year or two, it has been planned carefully over the years.  I believe that it is only through planning and preparation that you are really going to experience these kinds of successful and positive results”, the minister stated.

According to Samuda, more science needs to be put into agriculture so that more investors can be encouraged to go into agriculture.

“Earlier, enough emphasis was not being placed on investment in agriculture because we have had such a hard time in convincing people that agriculture is a viable and lucrative industry.  Today, it is made a lot easier because of the imperatives of knowing that we must produce enough for our requirements and more in order to export what we produce and earn foreign exchange”, he said.  

Samuda further explained that it was this kind of strategy and vision that was now driving agriculture and attracting people who were historically involved in the distributive trade. Many distributors like the CB Group are now investing in agriculture, which is the sector offering the greatest opportunity for economic growth in Jamaica.

CB Group’s entry into the fresh food market in Jamaica comes after years of research specifically targeting crops whose growth can create at least one of two types of major-impact import substitution and strong growth in export.

The Imagination Farms’ line of fresh produce — onions, sweet corn and scotch bonnet peppers — are expected to be on the shelves of supermarkets by next month and the company is encouraging all Jamaicans to buy local produce.