The Bethabara Primary School in Newport, Manchester, is looking to brand and market the crops and value-added products from its greenhouse farm. Principal of the institution, Cecil Hamilton, says that the farm, which is a key part of the school's "teaching and learning experience", produces vegetable crops such as pak choi and sweet pepper.
The items are supplied to the canteen to create healthy meals for students and staff, with excess crops sold to vendors and other individuals in the community. Value-added items such as juices and punches are also made from the vegetables, which have won awards for the school in the Jamaica 4-H Clubs competitions.
"We did some green juice, which was a hit," Hamilton boasts. The principal says the school administration is looking to get the vegetables and by-products into supermarkets across the parish, noting that dialogue has commenced with the HEART/NSTA Trust for a possible partnership to brand and package the items.
Noting that the farm serves as a learning tool, Hamilton says there is opportunity for the facility to be utlised in providing practical training for students studying agriculture.
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