Tobago Correspondent
For Tobago’s small entrepreneurs, finding a space to showcase and sell their products can be just as important as producing them.
Now, the Plymouth/Black Rock electoral district is giving entrepreneurs in the area that opportunity through a monthly farmers’ market at Adventure Micro Mall, Plymouth.
The inaugural market was held recently, featuring a variety of stalls selling vegetables, craft items, spices, coconuts and other items.
Samantha Cruickshank, operations officer, electoral district, described the initiative as community-driven, allowing constituents and the general public to patronise vendors from within the area.
“We’ve had high demand for persons wanting to sell and showcase their locally grown produce, goods and livestock. There was one instance where someone said they have so many rabbits, they want to give it away. We said, ‘No, come to the farmer’s market.’”
Cruickshank said that while the first event was not as well patronised as anticipated, she believes the next edition would be bigger as members of the district get familiar with the initiative.
She added that it was important for local entrepreneurs to have their own space to flourish.
Cruickshank said local producers should be encouraged as much as possible as the island seeks to boost food security.
Vendor Kaydi Eastman-McKenzie, an agripreneur, occupied one of the tents selling a variety of spices and traditional kitchen utensils from her family business.
“We create herbs and spice blends from indigenous plants. We created the blends to cater to the palate of the Tobagonians and diaspora. We also preserve the traditions by keeping the graters alive and the swizzle sticks, and we put them into a modern spin by creating them as earrings and keepsakes.”
Levi Blake was a hit with plant lovers, offering the male and female melocactus, buttercup plant, hibiscus, bougainvillea and other options to patrons.
Cruickshank urged the public to come out for this event next month, which she promises would be bigger and better.
