AGRIBUSINESS FORUM: ENHANCING REGIONAL TRADE AND ADDING VALUE TO CARIBBEAN AGRIFOOD PRODUCTS Organized by CTA, IICA , CTO 16 – 18 November 2014 The Flamboyant Hotel, Grenada

WHO IS CARIBBEAN VILLA CHEFS? Full service culinary company which provides chefs and other hospitality staff to private homes and villas throughout the Caribbean

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE AGRIFOOD SECTOR Food is everything we do! Each island offers flavors and food items that we can use to create unique menus and dishes!

OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN THE AGRIFOOD SECTOR Partner with the Organic Growers and Consumers Association in Barbados to increase the awareness and benefits of organic cuisine

Local market 1. Promoted on social media / facebook / email blast / word of mouth 2. Organic foods used to promote a unique food experience (Brand Organic, by Dane “The Slim Chef” Saddler) 3. Caribbean Villa Chefs is committed to providing healthy alternatives as a standard part of its menu offerings

SERVICES OFFERED Food Festivals Cooking Demos TV Appearances In Home Dining Villa Services Corporate Catering

Tourist market 1. Chef determines menu and can influence client’s buying and eating practices during their villa stay 2. Potential export market as guests returning home could want those flavors/ingredients more frequently

The Fine Dining experience!

Cou Cou & Flying Fish Bajan Sushi Description

AGRICULTURE----------------TOURISM For successful penetration into new markets, partnerships and strategic

alliances are key

The Steering committee that will assist in managing the certification for the organic

farmers project. ‘food you can trust from farmers who care”

About the OGCA 1. Started in 1998 as an NGO with the Community

Development Department. Principle founders Professor Oliver Headley, William Hinds, Melvin Jordan,

John Hunte 2. Persons attending an environmental workshop went on to form an advocacy group under the chairmanship

of Andrew Bynoe. 3. The group made a decision to seek out organic

farmers and bring them together as a unified entity IICA was engaged to develop a CD ROM Training

Program in organic farming 4. Barbados’ Ministry of Agriculture was exposed to

Soil Association Standards & OGCA lobbied for recognition and inclusion of organic farming in the

agricultural incentives program

5. Membership of the OCGA was defined by the ability to complete a variety of training programs

6. EU & Ministry of Education (then David Bynoe) & UNDP small grants program supported further training in organic

farming methods and standards over a five year period

What has the OCGA been doing?

Organic Veg Box Herbs packaged for the market At the market, Art Splash in Hastings

1. Worked with Casurina Beach Club (now Sandals) to pursue international certification 2. Creating organic farm tours with the assistance of tour guides & hotels 3. Included in the Slow Food Barbados & International organizations 4. Reached out to Caribbean Villa Chefs

What CVC needs

CONSISTENT SUPPLY

GUARANTEED QUALITY

Suppliers Sales/Marketing Channels

Business Development

& Product

Development

Local Consumers

Tourists

Exports

Organic Farmers

Hotels & Restaurants

Food Festivals Tour

Operators

Supermarkets

Development Agencies

Opportunities CVC

• Niche marketing

Corporate & Incentive travel

Fine Dining

• Services experience marketing

Tourism experience

Culinary experience

Healthy lifestyle value proposition

Opportunities OGCA

• Focus and perfect their craft – farming

– Internationally recognized certifications

• Create high value outputs – veg box

– Production and planting schedule

• Create intermediary services – tours

– Community tourism products (niche markets)

Proposed Tour Hiking Farming Cuisine Sunbathing / Fishing / Horseback Riding

Sustainable (community & environment) Fair price (to consumer & farmer) Win Win for all involved

The key challenge is to implement policies that can be operationalised

• CVC & OGCA are both micro enterprises – Using staffing & annual sales to so classify

– Limitations to be addressed in this collaboration Facilitating product development; business

development and business management NOW

Helping farmers to participate in the market while still LEARNING

Creating SUSTAINABLE business models

Supporting COMMUNITY TOURISM development

Policy implications

This is the view from the Kornerstone organic farm in St. John, Barbados