November is Eat Jamaican Month
By: , November 1, 2013The Key Point:
The Facts
- Minister Clarke said the 'Eat what we Grow…Grow what we Eat' campaign should not be seen as a simplistic appeal.
- He encouraged all Jamaicans to play their part in responding to the appeal to plant and consume more local foods.
The Full Story
November has been designated ‘Eat Jamaican Month’ by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The month-long series of events and public awareness campaign coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the ‘Eat What We Grow…Grow What We Eat’ campaign, which was launched in 2003 by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS).
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, while addressing the recent World Food Day celebrations, said the ‘Eat what we Grow…Grow what we Eat’ campaign should not be seen as a simplistic appeal.
It is a national call for action, he said, and encouraged all Jamaicans to play their part in responding to the appeal to plant and consume more local foods.
“I believe that we all wish to see the day when we eat more of what we produce locally in order to reduce our huge food import bill, which now stands at some US$1 billion,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, President of the JAS, Senator Norman Grant, said he fully endorsed the ‘Eat Jamaican Month’ campaign, during which the JAS would collaborate with the Ministry and other stakeholders in several events.
These include a Thanksgiving Church Service on Sunday, November 3, at the Portmore New Testament Church of God, Port Henderson, in St. Catherine; supermarket and media promotional activities; farmers’ markets; debate and seminar on food safety and food security; and a grand Eat Jamaican Exposition to be held under the patronage of the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, on the lawns of King’s House on Monday, November 25.