In a heartfelt show of support for student well-being and academic success, JP Farms donated five boxes of pineapples and two boxes of its locally grown bananas to Jessie Ripoll Primary School’s PEP Breakfast Programme, helping to nourish over 100 Grade 4 students ahead of their second day of Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations on Thursday, June 19.

Spearheaded by the school’s dynamic PTA President, Nicole-Ann Bromfield Lundy, the PEP Breakfast Programme has become a hallmark of care and preparation at Jessie Ripoll, ensuring that students enter their exams with full stomachs and calm minds. The initiative, now in its third year, is entirely parent-led and has grown to serve all three upper primary grades, exam-day volunteers, school staff, and invigilators.

“We do this nine times a year,” Bromfield Lundy shared. “It’s extremely important because it takes the pressure off the families trying to manage the anxiety and helps students settle into their exams with focus. When we heard JP Farms was interested in supporting, we were over the moon. Fruits are promoted but oftentimes not accessible because of cost – so this donation meant a great deal to us – and this is fully funded by the PTA and quite a few dedicated parents who donate every single breakfast whether or not their child/children are part of it. We don’t only feed our exam students but everyone as this is about creating a community of care. And thanks to JP Farms, we closed out the year in a big way.”

The contribution marks a deepening of JP Farms’ relationship with Jessie Ripoll Primary, which has purchased fresh produce from the company over the past three years to support its broader breakfast programme.

“We were genuinely excited to donate to their breakfast programme. Their consistent support of local produce and their commitment to student wellness really stood out to us,” said Shay-Ann Robinson, Brand Manager at JP Farms. “Given all the school community has overcome in the past year, we felt this was a meaningful way to show support. We believe nutrition is a key ingredient in a child’s academic journey, and overall well-being. Contributing to their PEP Breakfast Programme felt like a natural extension of our values – nourishing young minds with wholesome, locally-grown produce.”

(From left) Khemouya Shippie, Leilani Edwards, Sean-Anthony Palmer and Jaxon Maragh were all smiles as they grabbed their healthy fuel – bananas for brain power – before tackling day two of the Grade 4 PEP exams at Jessie Ripoll Primary.

The donation aligns closely with JP Farms’ corporate social responsibility agenda, especially its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #2: ending hunger and promoting food security and improved nutrition.

Robinson expressed, “By supporting school-based feeding programmes like this one, we are investing in both the immediate nutritional needs and the long-term educational outcomes of our nation’s children. It’s a small but meaningful way we can help to build a healthier and more resilient Jamaica.”

While the donation was tailored for this specific occasion, JP Frarms sees this act as part of a wider and growing commitment to youth development. The company has a history of supporting educational initiatives through JP St Mary’s Heritage Project, launched in 2019, which combines agriculture with youth engagement across schools in the parish of St Mary.

“This is not one-off,” Robinson affirmed. “We are actively engaging a number of schools in the St. Mary area, where many of our operations are rooted to provide similar support. We’re also exploring partnerships that will allow us to extend the reach of our produce donations and create opportunities for agricultural education and youth development. It’s important to us that our impact is not just felt in our fields, but across the wider community. JP Farms is proud to have played a role this time around and remain open to future opportunities to support initiatives like this that nurture young minds.”

At Jessie Ripoll, the PEP Breakfast Programme will continue to grow, powered by the passion of its PTA, which Robinson applauded, noting that the mission to “ensure no child began the exam day hungry” had been accomplished.

More broadly, the JP Farms team hopes the donation reinforces a sense of care, to show the students, as well as parents that there are people and businesses looking out for their best academic interests.