#SpeakingOut – A good move for the sugar industry

On March 7, it was a welcome sight to see the smiling faces of the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC) team as they celebrated the breakthrough into the United States, Miami, Florida, sugarcane market. 

On February 8, 20,000, two-pound packages of Barbados’ Del Sur sugar were exported to Miami. More shipments are planned for April and continuing monthly in additional containers. This bodes well for the sugar industry, with the prospect of reaping some much-needed foreign reserves to boost the economy and to give the Barbados brand some international exposure.

Florida is the main producer of sugarcane in the US, with 17.3 million tons produced in 2021. Overall, Florida produces about 20 percent of sugar consumed in the US. Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii, are the other production sources. The by-product, blackstrap molasses, is mainly used for animal feed.

Let’s hope that synergies can improve between the farmers and BAMC’s marketing team so that quantities planted would meet demand, and farmers would be compensated promptly. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Orlanda Atherley should continue to use the science, regarding time of planting/cutting, to get the maximum yield. I hope that the planned four-and 50-pound bags, for future export, also come to fruition.

For nostalgia, I always keep a 2lb package of Plantation Reserve, Barbados Traditional in my cupboard, for safekeeping and to be used sparingly.   

Congratulations BAMC and farmers alike. Keep up the good work.

Michael Headley, Brooklyn, NY