Already a major player in the coffee market, local manufacturer Salada Foods Jamaica Limited is moving to expand its footprint in ginger as it looks to take advantage of growing demand with more value-added products.

As a lead manufacturer in at least two ginger-based teas, Salada Foods last year reaffirmed its commitment to local farmers as it spent as much as $40 million to secure increased amounts of the crop for use in its tea and beverage lines. The company’s plain ginger and ginger turmeric teas as well as its golden turmeric latte with pumpkin spice — all sold under the flagship Jamaica Mountain Peak brand — have become customer favourites both locally and internationally.

“Jamaican ginger continues to grow in popularity globally. Consumers who enjoy ginger favour the Jamaican variety for its potency,” Salada General Manager Tamii Brown told the Jamaica Observer. “This year, we purchased over 80,000 pounds of rhizome from local farmers, which we use as a critical raw material for many of our existing products, as well as those currently under development. Market rates for local ginger vary between $300 and $500 per pound.”

Brown emphasised that one of Salada’s key growth strategies is diversifying its product portfolio to meet changing consumer and market demands. The company is also leveraging advanced technical capabilities, such as spray drying, which converts extracts into instant powder — allowing for more convenient, shelf-stable products.

“In an agricultural industry often challenged by scarcity, it’s prudent for Salada to explore alternative crops to build resilience,” she said.

Regarded as a powerful medicinal herb, ginger is widely used to relieve nausea, bloating, inflammation, and to aid digestion. The global ginger market — estimated to reach US$9.5 billion by 2027 — is being driven by increasing demand for functional foods and wellness products. While China and India dominate production, Jamaican ginger is distinguished by its potency, said to be four times stronger than many global varieties — positioning it as a premium product with untapped export potential.

Salada, aiming to further enhance the industry’s value chain, is pushing to develop more ginger-infused blends.

“We are working with top regional distributors to create beverage mixes that incorporate local fruits, spray-dried ingredients, and our treasured Jamaican ginger,” Brown revealed.

Wayne Hunter, acting director general of Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority, in commending Salada’s growth and effort said: “They’ve done a tremendous job packaging and marketing Jamaican ginger for both local and export markets. The company continues to invest in the value chain, creating opportunities for products like ginger extracts, ginger oil, ginger beer, and other culinary and medicinal applications.”

Despite challenges with securing a consistent supply of raw materials, Salada continues to build strong, long-term relationships with local farmers, many of whom rely on these partnerships for a sustainable income.

Christopher Lee, manager of logistics and IT support services at Salada Foods, in highlighting the company’s strategic foresight and constant engagement with farmers, said these were necessary to ensure consistency in sourcing.

“We visit farmers on their lands, follow up daily on new leads, and get a start on procurement before the crop is ready. Basically, it involves the constant engagement and leveraging years of relationships with different farmers,” he explained.

“Our success is directly tied to the success of Jamaica’s farmers,” Brown added. “By ensuring fair pricing, maintaining strong supplier relationships, and investing in local sourcing, we are helping to build a more resilient ginger industry.”

As the ginger crop becomes more vulnerable to bad weather conditions, climate risk, and diseases such as rhizome rot, Brown emphasised the importance of stakeholder collaboration, particularly with JACRA, which is working to introduce improved farming practices and more disease-resistant ginger strains.

Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about the future of Jamaican ginger.

“The outlook is positive, but we must plant the seeds today for a bountiful harvest tomorrow. Jamaica must move beyond producing ‘me-too’ products. We need to focus on our strengths, leverage our competitive advantages, and identify niche areas where we can lead globally,” Brown argued.

“Salada is laser-focused on creating greater access to Jamaican ginger by developing convenient, instant products that cater to modern consumer demands for instant gratification, while aligning with current flavour trends. In doing so, we create more ways for consumers to access and enjoy this world-class product,” she noted.