When Hurricane Melissa tore across Jamaica, farmers like Jean Marie Spratt watched helplessly as fruit trees toppled. Yet even in loss, she and others speak of faith, resilience, and rebuilding.
Yesterday, as Hurricane Melissa pounded Jamaica, we heard from farmer Jean Marie Spratt in the Gravel Hill District of Marypen, Clarendon. Rain poured, the winds howled, and she could only watch as her trees went down.
“I’m safe. But this the most terrible hurricane I ever see. Fruit trees on the ground, fruits everywhere. I can’t even go over there—it still windy, still raining. She a wicked girl. My heart cry. I’m completely stressed out. Can’t eat. I just sit on my verandah, watch them going down—trees full of fruit. It hurt.”
This morning, when the storm finally eased, Jean Marie walked her land. The sight was devastating.
“Damage bad, really bad. Yesterday was terrible. I don’t want nothing to happen to the fruit trees … but this is God’s work. Whatever tree fall, I’ll replace it. Some still standing.”
She paused by her breadfruit grove.
“Breadfruit get big damage. Thousands of june plum gone. But I see breadfruit leaves still on the trees—that surprise me. I pick up some, take them home. Big damage, whole crop lost. But still … I have to give God thanks.”
Jean Marie is a single lady, running a farm on her own. For about eight years, Trees That Feed Foundation has been providing her with trees—almost 600 in total. She has been an excellent steward of them, caring for her grove with dedication and love. And we will continue to support her. Jean Marie is just one of many, many farmers in Jamaica living this same story—working hard, facing storms, and holding fast to hope.
Farmers across the islands know this journey well. George Johnson, our partner at Ol’ Freetown Farm in Grand Bahama, shared this morning:
“Having experienced a Cat 5 hurricane in The Bahamas, I would recommend holding back on sending trees until they get living conditions and growing conditions in some kind of order.”
George speaks from hard-earned experience. After Hurricane Dorian destroyed his farm in 2019, he rebuilt slowly, step by step. His reminder is that recovery starts with people’s safety, shelter, and stability—then the trees come. Read George’s story of renewal here.
From Trinidad, our partner Raul Bermudez offered simple but powerful words: “She is alive. For that we are thankful.”
These voices reflect the camaraderie and support of the global breadfruit community—farmers and partners who know the hardship of storms, yet encourage each other to endure, rebuild, and plant again.
You can be part of the rebuilding. Please consider a donation at treesthatfeed.org/donate. There you can also check a box to add Comments or Special Instructions with your gift.
We’ll continue to be in close touch with our partners, including Jamaica’s Forestry Department, and we’ll report updates as we hear them.
Together, we’ll help farmers like Jean Marie recover, replant, and feed their communities again.
