NEGRIL, Westmoreland — In the heart of the parish a mother-daughter duo is proving that determination, family values, and faith can be the driving force behind entrepreneurial success. Sharda Lee, and her mother Nola Myrie, are the operators of The Pineapple Estate — a growing distribution company that began with just 35 pounds of pineapple and a whole lot of vision.

“Our family is small,” Lee shared with the Jamaica Observer. “I grew up with my older brother, my mother, and the impactful presence of my aunt, Lourine Myrie, a pioneer educator. But the biggest influence on my mindset was my late grandfather, Clovis Myrie. He was very ambitious and instilled principles in me that I couldn’t part from.”

Yet, the foundation of her strength and success rests firmly with her mother, Nola.

“She has been my greatest supporter,” Lee said about her mother. “Everything I have achieved is because of her love and encouragement. She’s been my best friend all my life.”

The idea for the business wasn’t born out of a formal business plan, but rather a divine nudge.

“I always wanted to do something in agriculture, but it never worked out,” Lee explained. “Then a friend mentioned distributing pineapples and I just knew this was it. I believe God sent the idea to her so it could reach me.”

Starting a business is challenging in any circumstance, but doing so as a single mother added another layer of complexity for Lee.

“Being a single mother is one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever gone through,” she admitted. “But instead of seeing it as a barrier, I used it as my motivation. I love my children deeply and I want to build something they can be proud of, and hopefully take over one day.”

With a dream in her heart, Lee turned to the person she trusted most to join her on the journey, her mother.

“My mother has always been business-minded, and I knew if I could be successful with anyone, it would be her,” she said.

Together, they bring complementary strengths to the table. Myrie provides calm and wisdom, guiding the business through challenges with patience and foresight. Lee, on the other hand, is naturally outgoing and excels at building strong relationships with clients.

Balancing family and business has been a careful dance, but Lee takes pride in her role as a mother, ensuring that she spends enough time with her children and is involved in their school life.

“At one point, I was named parent of the month; that meant the world to me,” she shared.

She is just as proud of her role as a business woman.

As Lee tells it, the early days of her business were simple but meaningful.

“We started with just 35 pounds of pineapples,” she recalled. “Every sale brought joy, whether it was one pound or 1,000. We faced challenges, but we learned and grew through them.”

One major hurdle was accessing larger markets and connecting with farmers. In addition, there is a slow season, or a down season for pineapples. But persistence paid off. Today, the business has not only expanded its reach into the tourism market but has done so consistently, supplying major hotels in Negril and Montego Bay. Other products have been added to the company’s distribution list to diversify its offerings and to ensure a steady cash flow.

“I made a call to a potential client, and they asked for 10 pounds [of pineapple]. We kept delivering, and it added up. Our quality service spoke for itself, and the numbers grew,” Lee explained. “One of our proudest milestones was getting into the larger markets and consistently meeting their requirements. It showed we could rise to the challenge.”

Financially and emotionally, Lee sees the business as being a blessing.

“We have to give God thanks. It’s been rewarding, and we’re aiming even higher. Putting God first, offering excellent service, and maintaining our integrity — that’s success,” she said.

The business has also left a mark on Lee’s young family. Her six-year-old son has shown a keen interest in entrepreneurship. He understands how to communicate with clients and even contributes ideas to help the business, some of which have been implemented.

Beyond the family, the venture supports local farmers and inspires the wider community.

“We buy pineapples from nearby farmers, and they’re happy for the consistent business. I also use my story to encourage women, especially single mothers. I didn’t start with capital, I started with passion and the mindset that failure wasn’t an option,” said Lee.

She and Myrie are already setting their sights on the next phase of growth.

“We want to go into agro processing, creating pineapple by-products for export. We’re thinking bigger and aiming for the international market,” Lee explained.

To other women and single mothers considering entrepreneurship, she offers heartfelt advice, “Don’t be afraid to dream big. You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Start small, be consistent, do your due diligence, and trust the process. It will all fall into place.”

Nola Myrie (left) and Sharda Lee, the mother/daughter duo and owners of The Pineapple Estate, a distribution company that started with 35 pounds of the fruit. (Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)

Nola Myrie, co-owner of The Pineapple Estate, provides calm and wisdom, guiding the business through challenges with patience and foresight. (Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)