Live Organic — The JOAM at 10

Thursday, December 08, 2011

THE Jamaica Organic Agricultural Movement (JOAM) marked its 10th anniversary Thursday last at the Girl Guides Association of Jamaica headquarters in St Andrew during their Annual General Meeting. The organisation has over the last 10 years made great strides in the training of farmers in organic practices, and, with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has set up organic demonstration sites across the island, thereby increasing the production of local organic produce.

JOAM also used the opportunity to present awards and showcase produce of certified organic farmers, as well as producers of organic fertilisers, and environmentally friendly farming tools such as Donna Noble's Woodford Market Garden, Dorienne Rowan-Campbell's Rowan's Royale, Cameron Industries Limited, and Jeff Silvera & Co, to name a few.

JOAM, a non-governmental organisation established in 2001, is operated solely by volunteers. They reminded guests of their primary aim — to increase the organic farmers' membership in the island and to maintain standards/certification for Caribbean farmers. Current chairman Raymond Martin also addressed the gathering on the progress of JOAM over the years, as well as the new standards now required of farmers seeking membership. Though slated guest speaker, Chef Ravi Anne of The Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa, was unable to attend, founding JOAM member Dorienne Rowan-Campbell of Rowan's Royale assumed the role and spoke to the high demand for organic produce, as well as highlighted the many challenges the industry faces.

One of the main challenges is that many of the farmers who have classified their produce as organic have not gone through the correct protocol to be considered certified organic farmers. Thursday Food shares highlights of the monumental event.