volume 13 no. 6 june 2015...party accreditation; sanitary transport; and intentional adulteration....

The National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) has embarked on a programme to provide packing house services to our farming community. On the 16th June, 2015 NAMDEVCO launched the Brechin Castle Packing House at Factory Road Brechin Castle, Couva marking the end of the construction phase.

This new Packinghouse will provide a one-stop destination for the proper post-harvest handling and processing of fresh and

minimally processed produce to meet local and international market requirements. In keeping with the Ministry of Food Production’s Action Plan, it will focus on cassava, hot pepper, pumpkin and leafy vegetables. Hundreds of farmers in the proximity will benefit from the packing house services.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday 16th June, 2015, NAMDEVCO CEO Ganesh Gangapersad said the new facility reflected NAMDEVCO’s commitment

NAMDEVCO opens Brechin Castle Packinghouse

Focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Wholesale Prices and Volumes, Export Prices, Seafood Prices

The Tilapia Commodity Task Force

Our First Local Tilapia Brand: TT Tilapia, Farmer-owned

Retail Prices

NAMDEVCO exhibits at TPFA National Fruit Festival 2015

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is a monthly bulletin of the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO). It provides information to strengthen the managerial and technical capacity of our agribusiness stakeholders and market intelligence in fresh produce and seafood at wholesale, retail and export markets.

Volume 13 No. 6 June 2015

to: “create, facilitate and maintain an environment conducive to the efficient marketing of agricultural produce and food products through the provision of marketing services and the stimulation of the business investment in the agro-industrial sector of Trinidad and Tobago.”

NAMDEVCO continues to forge new avenues that will assist our nation’s farmers, enabling them to boost food production and strengthening our food security.

Senator The Honourable Emmanuel George and Ganesh Gangapersad, Chief Executive Officer, NAMDEVCO, unveil the plaque at the opening of the NAMDEVCO Packing House at Brechin Castle.

2 GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 13 No. 6 June 2015

Focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)The Radisson Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad was the venue for a 2-day workshop on “Requirements for Exporting Food to the United States Market—Focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)” which was held during June 22-23, 2015. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) partnered with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications; the Ministry of Food Production and the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) to raise awareness about the importance of the FSMA proposed regulations. The opening ceremony chaired by the IICA Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, Gregg Rawlins welcomed Senator the Honourable Vasant Bharath - Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications who gave the feature address; Alex Delorey - Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Trinidad and Tobago; and Ganesh Gangapersad - CEO, The National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation. The USDA delegation in attendance were Omar Gonzalez and Ingrid Borrero from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Caribbean Basin, and Miguel Gonzalez - FAS, Washington along with Jacob Stevens - Economic and Commercial Officer, US Embassy Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The USDA and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with IICA have developed a series of activities to strengthen countries’ familiarization with the FSMA and associated proposed regulations that affect products exported to the United States of America. The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization

Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011, which aimed to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to contamination to prevention.

In 2013, a series of virtual conferences were carried out by the IICA Offices in collaboration with the FDA Latin American Office to sensitize public and private-sector officials in the Americas about the enactment of the

Opening Ceremony head table (l.- r.): Gregg Rawlins - IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago; Senator The Honourable Vasant Bharath, Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications; Alex Delory - Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Trinidad

and Tobago; and Ganesh Gangapersad - Chief Executive Officer, NAMDEVCO

new regulations. In 2014, IICA began activities in the Latin American countries with support from the USDA-FAS and the FDA to build capacity and increase knowledge of the FSMA proposed rules, so that the export sector could adequately respond to new demands.

Gregg Rawlins, in his welcoming remarks indicated that IICA and the USDA-FAS activities will allow the country to better face the challenges and opportunities tied to the FSMA

NAMDEVCO CEO Ganesh Gangapersad moderating the panel discussion

GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 13 No. 6 June 2015 3

regulatory framework in the best way possible by building and strengthening capacities within the region.

Presentations were given by experts from the FDA, Texas Tech University in the United States and IICA Specialists with support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Information International Development Agency of the USA (USAID). Kenneth Nieves, Assistant Regional Director FDA Latin America and Caribbean Office presented on Dynamics and the Food Import Process in the United States; FDA requirements for exporting food to the United States; and The Food Safety Modernization Act through a virtual linkup. IICA’s Agricultural Health and Food Safety Specialist, Ms Ana Marisa Cordero and Dr. Lisa Harrynanan; and Texas Tech University, Dr. Alexandra Calle presented on the 7 FSMA proposed rules: Preventive Controls (Human Food); Preventive Controls (Animal Food); Produce Safety; Foreign Supplier Verification Program; Third Party Accreditation; Sanitary Transport; and Intentional Adulteration.

IICA’s Ms. Cordero also presented a tool which could assess the level of preparedness of produce exporters related to the FSMA rules of the proposed

Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Produce Safety Rule). The instrument designed by IICA will help companies better understand how well they are prepared to comply with the new and proposed export requirements for the US.

A panel discussion on “Food Export to the US - Current situation, Main challenges: Vision of the public and private sectors in T&T” led by Ganesh Gangapersad, CEO NAMDEVCO with guest panelists, Crisen Maharaj, Manager, Capacity Building and Programme Financing, ExporTT Limited; Mrs Dhano Sookoo, President of Agriculture Society of Trinidad and Tobago; and Adrian McCarthy, Ag Director, Chemistry Food and Drug Division ended the 2-day workshop on

a note for further discussions within Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen and assist farmers, exporters, and processors to access export markets in the USA. The workshop attracted 85 participants from both the public and private sectors inclusive of academia, regulatory agencies, farmers, producers, processors and exporters.

On June 24 & 25, the visiting team led by IICA in collaboration with NAMDEVCO Field Officers visited 4 farmers from within Sangre Grande, Wallerfield and Orange Grove areas to make an informal assessment of their operations using the IICA developed tool to determine their readiness for exporting to the USA. The team also assessed in a limited capacity one processing facility and the NAMDEVCO packing house.

Photos by Lisa Harrynanan, IICA. For further information contact the IICA Office via [email protected] or [email protected], or visit the IICA website at www.iica.int.

A cross-section of participants at the workshop

Field visit to the farm of Mr. Himchand Beeran in Wallerfield Visit to the NAMDEVCO packing house at Piarco

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.iica.int


Vegetables

Leafy Vegetables

Condiments & Spices

Root Crops

Price % Change Volume % Change

Unit May-15 Jun-15 % change May-15 Jun-15 % change

Bodi Beans Bdl 31.19 33.08 6% 6,442 4,838 -25%

Cucumber Kg 5.07 5.88 16% 165,024 143,100 -13%

Melongene (M) Kg 11.20 10.30 -8% 22,306 19,268 -14%

Sweet Pepper (M) Kg 14.28 15.35 7% 14,144 13,712 -3%

Tomato (M) Kg 16.38 14.66 -11% 57,866 43,128 -25%

Pumpkin Kg 2.53 2.55 1% 201,307 112,401 -44%

REVIEW OF AVERAGE PRICES AND TOTAL VOLUMES AT NORRIS DEONARINE NORTHERN WHOLESALE MARKET FOR THE PERIOD MAY vs JUNE 2015




Leafy Vegetables

Root Crops

Condiments & Spices

Vegetables

Fruits


Carrot Kg 8.90 12.24 38% 85,050 75,774 -11%Cassava Kg 5.04 5.02 0% 40,140 45,955 14%Dasheen (Local) Kg 12.59 12.26 -3% 15,696 17,172 9%

Eddoes (Imported) Kg 13.95 13.26 -5% 44,370 77,941 76%

Sweet Potato (Local) Kg 6.96 8.08 16% 197,298 177,696 -10%Ginger Kg 22.60 33.31 47% 23,401 24,676 5%Yam (Common) Kg 8.29 8.38 1% 6,731 6,259 -7%


Celery Bdl 23.14 33.66 45% 6,985 5,177 -26%

Chive Bdl 45.34 63.80 41% 4,908 4,874 -1%

*Hot Pepper 100s 30.80 35.07 14% 2,692 2,437 -9%

Pimento (M) 100s 20.51 22.86 11% 10,641 7,291 -31%


Patchoi Bdl 5.69 6.21 9% 13,355 11,085 -17%

Spinach Bdl 5.31 5.06 -5% 11,280 13,390 19%

Cabbage (Local) (Gn) Kg 7.99 11.79 48% 68,108 42,158 -38%

Callaloo bush (open) Bdl 4.94 4.92 0% 10,700 17,930 68%

Callaloo bush (roll) Bdl 6.00 5.97 -1% 5,950 8,500 43%

Lettuce (M) Hd 5.01 5.43 8% 16,820 10,875 -35%

The majority of fruit items resulted in increase prices with a more significant 20% increase in the average price of Pineapple resulting in a comparative fall in total

For the month of June it was seen that there was a noticeable 76% increase in the volume of Imported Eddoes entering the Wholesale Market with a less than proportionate decrease in price of -%5. Also there was a 38% price

All items with in this category showed an increase in average prices with both Celery and Chive experiencing a more perceptible increase at 45% and 41%

All vegetables within this grouping experienced fall in average volumes, more noticeably Pumpkin -45%, Bodi Bean -25% and Tomatoes -25%, with less than proportional increase in average price.

Most leafy Vegetables showed increased prices namely Local Cabbage with a discernible increase of 48% and a Proportional decrease of volume by -38% followed by Lettuce


Leafy Vegetables

Root Crops

Condiments & Spices

Vegetables

Fruits

Fruits


Unit May-15 Jun-15 % change May-15 Jun-15 % changeBanana (Imported) Kg 9.17 9.23 1% 97,665 89,445 -8%Papaya Kg 10.04 10.23 2% 24,345 25,256 4%Pineapple Kg 8.89 10.70 20% 89,404 52,436 -41%Watermelon Kg 5.87 5.41 -8% 133,720 122,086 -9%

ORANGE VALLEY FISH MARKET PORT OF SPAIN FISH MARKET

Commodity Unit May-15 Jun-15 % CHANGE May-15 Jun-15 % CHANGE

Ancho Kg 61.73 na na 61.73 55.12 -11%Bachin Kg na na na 32.19 30.21 -6%Blanche Kg 7.17 na na 4.96 4.85 -2%Brochet Kg NA 22.05 na 22.68 23.05 2%Carite Kg 64.61 46.33 -0.28 58.50 45.73 -22%Cat Fish Kg 6.61 7.72 0.17 4.60 4.29 -7%Cavalli Kg 27.56 29.40 0.07 19.71 20.95 6%Cro Cro Kg 11.61 11.74 0.01 12.89 13.04 1%Cutlass Fish Kg 6.61 na na 6.37 6.17 -3%Herring Kg 9.63 12.01 0.25 6.61 2.20 -67%King Fish Kg 71.65 51.81 -0.28 62.27 53.24 -15%Mixed Fish Kg 5.51 5.14 -0.07 12.23 11.86 -3%Moonshine Kg 26.11 25.69 -0.02 22.05 na naRed Fish Kg 39.57 37.48 -0.05 39.25 35.27 -10%Salmon Kg 38.16 36.91 -0.03 36.77 34.32 -7%Shark Kg 20.07 19.34 -0.04 17.82 18.62 4%Shrimp (M) Kg 35.18 35.68 0.01 57.48 61.24 7%

increase for Carrot and a comparative decrease in the average volume. Ginger also experienced a significant price increase by an average of 47%, followed by Local Sweet Potato 16%.

respectfully. All other items also including Celery and Chive displayed a relative decrease in average volumes.

-35%. Callaloo Bush open also resulted in a more than proportionate increase in average total volumes of 68% followed by rolled Callaloo Bush by 45%.

Cucumber, Melongene and Sweet pepper all showed fall in volumes at -13%, -14% and -3% respectfully with comparable increased prices.

average volume. Both watermelon and Imported Banana showed -9% and -8% decreases in average total volumes with Paw Paw having a 4% increase. CO

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HOT PEPPER - MIAMI TERMINAL PRICES - MAY 2015Georgia

Package Variety Low Price High Price Mostly Low Mostly High1 1/9 bushel cartons CUBANELLES 24 24 1 1/9 bushel cartons JALAPENO 20 21 1 1/9 bushel cartons LONG HOT 24.75 25 1 1/9 bushel cartons POBLANO 25 25

FloridaPackage Variety Low Price High Price Mostly Low Mostly High

1 1/9 bushel cartons CUBANELLES N/A N/A N/A N/A1/2 bushel cartons HABANERO 20 20

1 1/9 bushel cartons JALAPENO 19.08 20.33 1/2 bushel cartons JALAPENO 12.5 14 10 11

1 1/9 bushel cartons LONG HOT 16 17 1 1/9 bushel cartons POBLANO 19 20 18 181/2 bushel cartons SERRANO 13.75 15 14.33 14.66

1 1/9 bushel cartons SERRANO N/A N/A N/A N/AMexico

Package Variety Low Price High Price Mostly Low Mostly High40 lb containers JALAPENO 15 16

1 1/9 bushel crates POBLANO 21.5 22.5 18 191 1/9 bushel crates SERRANO 29.33 29.66 1/2 bushel cartons HABANERO 27 27

JamaicaPackage Variety Low Price High Price Mostly Low Mostly High

1/2 bushel cartons HABANERO 28 28 Trinidad and Tobago

Package Variety Low Price High Price Mostly Low Mostly High1/2 bushel cartons HABANERO 28 28


“Under the National Food Security Action Plan of the Ministry of Food Production, The Tilapia Commodity Action Plan (TCAP) comprises a number of activities which have been implemented to stimulate continued interest and investment in aquaculture enterprises. In 2012 the Tilapia Task Force was installed which comprised of both state agencies and private sector. In October 2014 a revamped Task Force was installed by the Honourable Minister of Food Production, Senator Devant Maharaj, following the creation of the Aquaculture Unit in the Ministry. This new Task Force comprised of private sector farmers from the Aquaculture Association of Trinidad and Tobago (aQua-TT) and from the aQua-TT Multi-purpose

The Tilapia Commodity Task ForceCooperative Society Limited (aQua-TT MCSL), National Flour Mills (NFM), Seafood Industry Development Company (SIDC), Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Sugarcane Feed Center (SFC), Aquaculture Unit and NAMDEVCO.

Key issues identified in the sector such as, feed supply security, fingerling security, aquaculture legislation, processing and marketing were identified. Feed security issues have now been rectified due to the efforts of NFM and private sector investors based on the advice of the Task Force. The aQua-TT has facilitated discussions of feed suppliers and hatchery producers and now there is unified focus on the sector and these limitations have been eliminated based on the activities of

the Task Force. Currently discussions on drafting an Aquaculture Policy are ongoing among members of the sub-committee in the Task Force. Discussions regarding Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary standards for post harvest handling of fish are in progress with the Fisheries Division. Lastly the issues with processing and marketing gave rise to the TT-Tilapia brand. After several decades of results with little realization of the overall objectives from aquaculture initiatives, tremendous strides have been made within the last three (3) years. The creation of the enabling environment, for the responsible development of a sustainable aquaculture sector encompassed the components that have been deemed critical by stakeholders.”

“The number of commercial operations has increased with private sector involvement and appears to be significantly affecting the industry in a positive way along with strategic state support. Registered commercial tilapia producers have increased from four to seventeen. However, some of the factors which have stagnated production are technical in nature, particularly where the management and operation of hatcheries are concerned. The genetic quality and feed resources issues have also been rectified.

As production increased, farmers experienced difficulties selling tilapia that were unprocessed. The preferred forms were

Our First Local Tilapia Brand: TT-Tilapia, farmer-owned!

filleted and drawn (entrails, gills, scales and fins removed) products.

Stakeholders lobbied for awareness and market promotion programmes for locally produced tilapia. Consumer preference currently lies with a convenient ready to use form of tilapia such as fillets and other value added products. Therefore if our local production was to gain greater market acceptance the fish had to be processed.

As such the aQua-TT MCSL in conjunction with several public stakeholders which comprised the Tilapia Commodity Task Force Committee launched the TT-Tilapia brand with the signing of an MOU among aQua-TT, SIDC, SFC and NAMDEVCO. Distribution of its first drawn product started in March 2015 with limited success.

Nonetheless, teething problems such as packaging, distribution and pricing issues have been rectified. The drawn product is now distributed in vacuumed seal labeled bags. The brand is currently supplied with fresh red and silver Tilapia weekly by sixteen contracted farmers. Site inspection visits are routinely done by the assigned Aquaculture Extension Officers and the newly hired Tilapia Coordinator. With this new collaborative effort by the private sector and state agencies, the Tilapia sector is destined to meet our projections of 100 tonnes per annum by 2016.”


PRICE COMPARISONS MAY VS JUNE 2015 ACROSS THE VARIOUS MARKETS

Commodity UnitNWM May2015

NWM June2015

Farmers’ Markets

May2015

Farmers’ Markets

June2015

Municipal Markets

May2015

Municipal Markets

June2015

Vege-Marts May2015

Vege-Marts June2015

Super- markets

May2015

Super- markets

June2015

ROOT CROPS

Carrot Pack 4.05 5.56 na na 5.83 7.01 6.33 7.80 6.49 7.24

Cassava Kg 5.04 5.02 6.79 7.03 7.41 8.18 8.19 8.71 10.13 10.29

Dasheen(Local) Kg 12.59 12.26 13.41 13.11 14.06 14.22 14.70 14.33 18.66 19.15

Eddoes (Local) Kg 13.89 na 15.60 15.62 15.63 14.92 16.31 17.22 19.84 20.09

Sweet Potatoes (Local) Kg 6.96 8.08 13.13 12.91 12.29 13.43 13.99 14.10 19.41 19.59

Sweet Potatoes (Foreign) Kg 7.23 6.47 na na 13.59 13.78 15.85 14.34 16.55 16.91

Ginger Kg 22.60 33.31 27.13 36.63 31.58 40.64 35.02 46.05 41.93 41.87

CONDIMENTS

Celery Bndl. 23.14 33.66 2.12 2.71 2.12 2.61 2.53 2.94 3.09 3.15

Chive Bndl. 45.34 63.80 2.39 3.11 2.76 3.64 3.02 3.91 3.37 3.82

Hot Peppers Each 0.31 0.35 0.37 0.38 0.43 0.49 0.51 0.54 0.79 0.76

Shadon Beni Bndl. 17.87 19.74 2.77 3.20 2.08 1.99 3.24 3.17 3.37 1.79

Pimento Each 0.21 0.23 0.26 0.26 0.34 0.34 0.38 0.40 0.59 0.58

LEAFY VEGETABLES

Lettuce (M) Head 5.01 5.43 5.53 5.81 6.05 6.21 6.63 6.81 6.48 7.96

Patchoi Bndl. 5.69 6.21 5.81 6.30 6.93 7.29 7.61 7.87 8.37 8.55

Amaranthus spp. (Spinach) Bndl. 5.31 5.06 6.13 6.09 6.81 6.84 7.53 7.59 8.66 8.27

Cabbage( Local) (Gn) Kg 7.99 11.79 10.94 12.78 12.16 14.87 13.14 15.64 16.95 18.05

Callaloo Bush (open) Bndl. 4.94 4.92 5.42 5.86 5.78 5.59 6.04 6.02 6.55 6.92

Callaloo Bush (roll) Bndl. 6.00 5.97 7.62 7.75 7.20 6.94 7.98 8.39 7.99 7.91

OTHER VEGETABLES

Bodi beans Bndl. 31.19 33.08 6.24 7.70 5.36 5.94 6.33 6.33 6.86 7.04

Caraille Kg 8.42 8.56 11.58 11.66 12.69 12.87 13.80 14.36 19.50 19.15

Cauliflower Kg 21.22 23.24 22.70 27.70 24.05 24.50 29.42 27.46 32.88 33.84

Cucumber Kg 5.07 5.88 8.46 9.93 9.19 9.99 9.60 10.52 12.13 12.46

Christophene Kg 7.91 20.65 13.13 21.68 11.99 20.18 14.11 24.22 17.32 22.50

Melongene (M) Kg 11.20 10.30 11.79 11.67 15.17 14.02 15.52 14.48 19.07 18.41

Ochro Each 0.27 0.33 0.36 0.43 0.37 0.39 0.38 0.41 0.45 0.43

Pumpkin Kg 2.53 2.55 4.86 4.57 4.56 4.16 5.57 5.33 7.01 6.08

Plantain (Ripe) Kg 6.76 6.90 10.52 12.73 12.17 12.07 14.00 13.70 17.93 16.24

Sweet Pepper (M) Kg 14.28 15.35 15.30 17.80 17.62 19.89 20.29 23.21 22.78 25.40

Seim Beans Kg 16.53 19.78 17.72 21.13 20.78 24.15 23.29 23.38 28.27 28.30

Tomato (M) Kg 16.38 14.66 15.63 13.76 18.75 16.84 20.40 17.91 22.72 24.10

FRUITS

Dry Coconuts Each 3.85 3.95 5.02 5.27 5.76 5.51 6.47 6.41 6.55 6.99

Banana (imported) Kg 9.17 9.23 12.49 12.20 11.08 11.07 11.85 11.71 12.68 12.29

Papaya Kg 10.04 10.23 11.05 11.94 12.66 13.45 14.01 14.37 17.11 15.77

Pineapple Kg 8.89 10.70 11.29 11.72 12.69 14.45 13.65 14.64 15.95 18.24

Watermelon Kg 6.08 5.49 6.77 7.68 7.32 7.15 8.12 8.18 8.86 9.03

CITRUS

Lime Each 1.70 1.53 1.29 1.37 2.15 2.08 2.22 2.43 2.50 2.42

Grapefruit Each 1.05 1.17 1.61 1.59 1.83 1.99 2.33 2.07 2.25 2.18

Orange Each 1.00 1.09 1.69 1.72 1.83 1.81 2.27 1.77 2.05 2.30



Editor: Ganesh GangapersadCONTACT US

The National Marketing and Development Corporation

(NAMDEVCO)

Trinidad W.I.Tel: (868) 647-3218/3467

Fax: (868) 647--6087Email: [email protected]

Design & Layout: Karibbean DesignsPrinting: SCRIP-J

On June 26th – 28th NAMDEVCO participated in an exhibition at the fourth edition of the National Fruit Festival hosted by the Tableland Pineapple Farmers Association (TPFA) at the Nu Image Simplex Complex in New Grant. Over the years, NAMDEVCO has partnered with the TPFA to support this initiative which seeks to promote agriculture and holistic lifestyles, especially to the nation’s youth.

NAMDEVCO exhibits at Tableland Pineapple Farmer’s Association

NATIONAL FRUIT FESTIVAL 2015Speaking at this year’s Opening Ceremony, Agricultural Economist, Omardath Maharaj, proposed an “Eat Local Day” which he believes is critical towards getting greater local content into the Trinbagonian diet.

On display were several “rare” fruits which received much attention from young and adult visitors to the Festival. Countless photos were being taken of fruits such as Charpout, Cashima,

GruGru, Whampee, Barahar, Penny piece, Jack fruit and GriGri. More popular fruits, like five finger, pineapple and mangoes were on sale. Fruit plants seemed to be the preferred purchase of many.

NAMDEVCO’S booth also displayed a range of the Corporations’ products, their signature fruit baskets and provided information on its services.

Here are some highlights from the event!

volume 13 no. 6 june 2015...party accreditation; sanitary transport; and intentional adulteration....

Documents