THE crates Myzani Taylor watched her farmer father use to package and transport fresh produce in Cascade, St Ann, would years later inspire a business of her own.

At 19, Taylor is the founder of Crafted Crates, a produce-sourcing and delivery business she launched after identifying an opportunity to make market shopping more convenient for busy consumers. Her late father, Fabian Taylor, introduced her to agriculture from an early age, but rather than following him directly into farming, she found her own place within the agricultural value chain.

“I was always very imaginative and idea-driven,” Taylor said. “I always thought about the convenience of having market produce delivered because a lot of people are busy and would appreciate being able to pay for that convenience.”

Five months after launching, Crafted Crates has completed more than 100 orders and serves approximately 75 customers across all 14 parishes. Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, and Manchester have emerged as the business’s strongest markets, while Taylor says demand in Clarendon and her home parish of St Ann has been steadily increasing since the start of a partnership with Malta.

That collaboration centres on Market Hopping & Shopping, Taylor’s digital series that follows her into markets across Jamaica as she sources produce, interacts with vendors and introduces viewers to some of the people and communities behind the products she sells.

Crafted Crates founder Myzani Taylor is expanding the visibility of her business through Market Hopping & Shopping, a seven-episode digital series sponsored by Malta.

Malta has contributed $300,500 to sponsor seven episodes of the series, along with product support and branded point-of-sale items for giveaways. The sponsorship is aligned with Malta’s The Good You Give platform by highlighting how support, opportunity, and community investment can help transform a simple agricultural idea into a thriving enterprise, as demonstrated through Taylor’s journey.

Beyond increased visibility, Taylor says the partnership has helped strengthen the credibility of her young business. As Crafted Crates becomes better known, she has been able to connect with potential suppliers, opening opportunities to expand the network needed to support its growth.

The recognition has been particularly meaningful for Taylor at an early stage in her entrepreneurial journey.

“Having my hard work recognised by the media and supported by a brand like Malta is something that makes me emotional, not in a sad way, but out of immense gratitude,” she said. “It’s proof that my concept at such a young age is something I could execute despite everything happening around me. It came at a time when I really needed it.”

The progress represents a significant shift from Crafted Crates’ beginnings, when Taylor’s customers were largely drawn from people she knew. The business has developed a wider online community and customer base, while Taylor has also completed two television interviews since launching.

Her approach to agriculture remains closely connected to the experiences that shaped her childhood. Instead of cultivating produce herself, Taylor is building around sourcing and distribution, connecting customers seeking convenience with fresh market produce. Taylor’s plans, however, extend beyond production and delivery.

She recently began her first year at The University of the West Indies, Mona, where she is pursuing a degree in biotechnology. Taylor sees her studies as an opportunity to deepen her knowledge of agriculture while exploring how science and innovation could eventually influence the direction of Crafted Crates.

Her longer-term ambition includes moving into manufacturing and contributing to what she describes as a “smarter agricultural space”.

“I don’t want years to pass and find myself or my business in the same place,” Taylor said.

With more than 100 orders completed, customers in every parish and new supplier relationships beginning to emerge, Crafted Crates has already outgrown its start-up phase. For Taylor, the focus now is on scaling the business while creating new opportunities along Jamaica’s agricultural value chain.