Senator meets with fresh produce exporters to address freight challenges
7 JUNE 2021, ST, GEORGE’S: Agriculture and Fisheries Senator Roderick St. Clair met with fresh produce exporters on Monday, 7 June 2021 to address a major challenge to the industry – freight. The current freight arrangement is unreliable, limited and truncated. Callalloo, breadfruit, breadnut and soursop are some of the main items exported. The fresh produce exporters have a capacity to export 50,000 – 60,000 pounds weekly, and members of the sector must have their bulk cargo exported in a more efficient manner. The sector employs 500 – 600 people with $150,000 in salaries into the economy and $300,000 paid directly to farmers. The senator has noted their concerns, and the negative impact this situation has on the farming community, as Grenada is losing export market opportunities; farmers’ income is lessened and the foreign exchange is significantly affected, especially in this current situation. The exporters want to see a plan to improve the volume and frequency of freig...