Trees That Feed Foundation, in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica, is pleased to introduce three new avocado varieties to Jamaica.
This initiative is designed to support year-round avocado production on the island. It strengthens food security. It supports farmers. It builds climate resilience.
This milestone reflects more than one year of careful planning. It required permits and approvals. Quarantine departments in both countries were involved. The process was completed in partnership with the Dominican Republic.
We thank Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Mr. Floyd Green and Mr. Orville Palmer, Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining for their leadership. Special thanks go to Mr. Allan Marley, Jamaica’s Chargé d’affaires to the Dominican Republic.
We also thank Mr. Locksley Waites, Senior Agronomist at Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). We’re grateful for Mr. Wellington Antonio Martínez Inoa of Momagro in the Dominican Republic for supplying the scions. Both of these gentlemen put a lot of time and energy into this project!
The avocado varieties are Carla, Hass, and Semil31.
Watch the video message Mr. Waites sent to Mr. Marley from the Dominican Republic while collecting the scions (budwoods). The scions will be grafted onto young seedling rootstock in Jamaica by Mr. Rakel Cobin.
The saplings will remain in quarantine for six months. The trees will then be planted in selected locations across the island and monitored to determine optimal elevations and soil conditions. Once this research phase is complete, the new avocado varieties will be made available to farmers throughout Jamaica.
Trees That Feed Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help Jamaica grow more food. Every season. Every year.
Good News!!!! I am soooooooo elated to hear of this new initiative!!! As lover of avocado especially Haas!!! I think it is a good idea, I say thank you to the Dominican Republic. I thank my minister Floyd Green for his partnership with Dominica. I hope seedlings/ plants will be available for purchase at our local RADA Office. Thank you Dominica 🇩🇲
please let me know when available l have been looking for this in Jamaica.
what about the American apple 🍎 and mayers lemon 🍋
Yes thank you to the forward thinker, Mr. Green. This idea have been rolling over in my mind for a while now, but, didn’t have an avenue to express the ideas, but God knows how to get things implemented in his own time. I’m praying I’ll be able to get plants such as the Haas for my garden. I’m very happy.
I love to hear this Year round Avacado…Yeeeaaahhh
I am happy to read this post and the initiative taken by the Ministry.
I am a farmer and would like to purchase the varities for planting.
Please let me know where they are available.
Thanks
I’m a farmer and would like to purchase the planting material
Hopefully also advise on planting and maintenance
Increasing the varieties is wise!
I will like to purchase some plants ofthe new avocado varieties
Sharon hi. This is Shirley , college batch mate. Good news for Jamaica
The Ministry of Agriculture had a research orchard with about 15 avocado varieties growing at the Lawrencefield Research Station in St. Catherine. There were also a large number of mango varieties.
While the records kept at Crops and Soils Division may now be lost, some trees of various varieties probably still survive and someone could do an evaluation.
Lawrence Field Research Station in now Morris Meadows Housing scheme. The lands that once boasted extensive collections of germplasm for Avacado, Pimento, and Mangoes were repurposed for housing years ago. The tragedy for the Jamaican agriculture industry is the fact that there are several other hundreds of acres of fertile, irrigable,class 1, recent alluvial soils on the St. Catherine plains that have recently been converted and are still in the process of being converted to housing schemes.
I would love to get some plants
Yes bring Hass variety thank you
I would like to purchase
Some of these new specie
Of Avocados that have
Arrived in the Island
Lawrence Field Research Station in now Morris Meadows Housing scheme. The lands that once boasted extensive collections of germplasm for Avacado, Pimento, and Mangoes were repurposed for housing years ago. The tragedy for the Jamaican agriculture industry is the fact that there are several other hundreds of acres of fertile, irrigable,class 1, recent alluvial soils on the St. Catherine plains that have recently been converted and are still in the process of being converted to housing schemes.
These must be planted in orchards. Please do not hand them out to be planted on homesteads where they will not be protected from ruminants.
I am an Avocado farmer who studied Plant Pathology at undergraduate Degree level, and whose family had for generations farmed Avocados and other fruits; and sugar cane.
Citrus
Papaya
Banana
Citrus
Coconuts
Sugar Cane
June Plums
And now Avocados? Why?
These were all quarantined, but the known pathogens seemed to have come on a different aeroplane.
May God help the people of East Portland and Red Hills, St. Thomas.
I am yet to be convinced that this is a gòod idea.
Please do not bring any breadfruit.
Some varieties produce fruit year round so there is always food in season
As a director of Avocado Society of Jamaica we welcome this initiative
I think this is a good inititive.I would certainly want a plant tp buy.
This will assist with our food security
This is so good to hear, I am a Farmer and would like to purchase some of the varieties of those avocado plants, well done agriculture Minister and Ministry .
As a lover of avocado, I am also elated to hear about this project. I also like Haas pears, which Ive only seen abroad, altho in my childhood in the country, there were similar varieties, which are no longer around. Would certainly appreciate a variety of the seedlings when they become available.
As a lover of avocado, I am also would certainly appreciate a variety of the seedlings whenever they become available.
When those plants will be available I would be grateful to have some
I meant Red Hills, St. Andrew.
In the future please do widest possible consultation, among traditional farm families, not just big men.
For all of you who asked when the trees will be available… The budwoods are being grafted onto young seedling rootstock today. After 6 months in quarantine, they will be planted in selected locations across the island and monitored to determine optimal elevations and soil conditions. Once this research phase is complete, the new avocado varieties will be made available to you.
The time is now. Now for us to link up and start moving together as a unit. As Africa unite, so must we in the diaspora. Self actualization, self reliance, with an each one teach one mentality. I look forward to bigger and better things together in all aspect of our future generations.
Very good.
Quarantine
I prefer to stick with my original Jamaican avocado I live in the USA and a lot of time I bought the bass avocado and they are no Jamaica has the best variety of avocado don’t sell out
Jamaica don’t sell out we have the best avocado in the world
Jamaica don’t sell out we have the best avocado in the world already
Waiting to hear about this for a long time. Please get some assorted mangoes. I hope it will be available to the locals to plant.
Hoping they won’t do anything negative to our local virety after pollination takes place. because our local citrus trees is been extincted because of some deseses that is affecting them negatively ..
Imported varieties act as sinks for new pathogens. NO SUCH EFFORT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST. These new varieties have only worked for short periods as in the cases which included Papaya, Citrus, Coconuts, Sugar Can, and June Plums.
This may seem to be a good business decision, but in time is likeky to adversely affect our local varieties, as the Solo Papaya variety has done to the large local varieties. Ssdly In Eastern Portland, and in St. Thomas this has been the case.
There are a few Avocados varietites that bear later in the year.
As a JAMAICAN and nember of a farm family that specialized in fruit farming in Eastern Jamaica for over 100 years I, I am not supporting this.
How can one have it in Cameroon?
Hi, Mary..talkinh to Robin the other day..Boy..Avocado has pathogens ? I woild love to see the “alligator pear” (long neck) crossed with a more. Meaty variety..I think grafting should be taught at secondary school level)..Take care, tony
This is great!! How can I get some plants? Thank you.
Great idea.
I too would like to participate in the venture to plant out an orchard.
The avocados from DR are bit good
I have bought them a ND never had a good one they spoil from inside
The best is still Simmonds from jamaica
It’s just like the St Mary chips it’s not made in jamaica but DR
There is no place called St Mary in DR
Why we allow others to use our name and culture for profit with no profit for us
The first thing they do is to prevent a country to provide for it self That’s why they don’t mess with Guyana it is the only country in the world that feed itself and dnt need to import any food
Why can’t Jamaica
Can you say if the seedlings will be available through the local RADA offices?