Working From The House

Into the final stretch with building the presentation and final report for the Market Research Study.  Lately, I find that working from the house provides more quiet time to gather the thoughts except... there's different kinds of activities that happen & distract my attention.  For example, the Land Lady sent a tree climber to pick coconuts in our garden before they fall.  These coconuts can weigh 5-10 lbs each and can really 'hurt' if they hit you.  About a dozen coconuts were pulley downed & with a handy cutlass, I have been enjoying fresh coconut water & jelly.  Here are some pictures...

 

 

I live in a house that is surrounded by 3 schools, so between the bells ringing, children playing outside, I also hear teachers reading to the pre-schoolers outside.  Here's a picture of the children being read to while I pretend to take the garbage out. 

 

Okay... must now go back to the report writing!  

 



"Oil Down" - Grenada's National Dish

Fridays at the office is typically 'Buy Lunch' Day.  Take Away in Styrofoam boxes is the norm with Grenadian food, unless you go to KFC or Subway the only American chains around.  This is Oil Down cooked in a HUGE pot over the fire with breadfruit, bluggoes, potatoes, coconut milk, chicken, salt beef, salted pigtail, salt fish, carrots, callaloo &, dumplings (dough boy!). 

 

 

So filling & always a generous portion.  This is my lunch AND dinner.  My colleagues laugh at me because they eat the entire dish for 1 meal (especially Nasell above). No wonder they take afternoon naps at their desk!

 



"Fieldwork" Completed!

For the past 5 weeks, Sabrina and I have been interviewing Purchasers of specific agricultural products to better understand their needs and challenges.  Their biggest need is the ability to consistently buy produce and chicken throughout the year to reduce the high import volume.  We talked with Purchasing Officers at Supermarkets, Hotels and Restaurants in Grenada and Carriacou.  Here are pictures of 2 big supermarkets (MNIB & Food Fair)...

(I do "take-away" lunch here at MNIB where people line up at the back of the store)

 

 

 

Here's a large vendor who sells all kinds of produce.  She even has a cooler inside the store for cold drinks...

 

And, this is Ade's Dream in Carriacou where I also stayed.  This is a hotel (guest house) with a restaurant AND large supermarket.  So they buy products for both outlets and therefore, a 2 for 1 trip for me! 

 

The next step is to gather and analyze all the data collected.  With the many discussions... suspect focusing on chicken, chicken, chicken is going to surface.  The huge demand and volume of (imported) chicken purchased is increasing and yet... throughout the island (urban & rural), you often see chickens running around on the road! 

 

 

 



Went on my 1st "Hash"!

Every Saturday, the Locals arrange a 'Hash' which is an organized hike where anyone can join in. Some run & many walk the designated trail that the organizers scope out in advance.  They usually post the location 3 days ahead & it can be anywhere on the island.  I was amazed that ~100 people showed up - all ages, locals & visitors alike.  Here's a picture of the group hashing...



 

The climb was steeper than expected - it even involved 'ropes' at one point.  The view from the top was worth it.  This is Woburn Bay and the surrounding area in the southern part of Grenada. A neat way to see the country.

 

The climb down required major braking with my old tennis shoes (very little treads left).  Needless to say, I'm recovering from stiff thigh muscles!

 

So Nice To Have Visitors From Canada

Friends from Canada have arrived to get a sense of life in Grenada &... no doubt, escape the cold for some R&R.  It also gives me a chance to see things I haven't visited.  For example, went to the Nutmeg Factory in Gouyave where they dry & manually sort 5 grades (sizes) of nutmeg for export.

....the Diamond Factory in Victoria where they process the cocoa beans into chocolate branded Jouvay (this is 1 of 2 Grenadian brands - the other is the Grenada Chocolate Company). The factory and land was a former plantation built in the late 1700's. 

 

...even saw local farmers pick the cocoa beans along the roadside & another, delivering it to the Diamond Chocolate Factory

 



 

Ended the day by returning to St. George's via Grand D'Etang, a rainforest up in the mountains with no monkeys to be seen - likely hiding during the rain mist we had. 



February 7th... Independence Day!

This is the 41st Anniversary "Independence Day" in Grenada.  A national holiday similar to Canada Day.  Lots of red, green & yellow on the streets with loud music & huge pots of 'oil down'.  These are school kids outside the house and Sabrina and I dressed up in Grenadian colours.  The last picture are the marching bands going up and down Melville St. - the oldest street in St. George's.

 



Market Research Fieldwork Begins...

So far we have interviewed 8 Purchasers (ie. hotels, restaurants, grocery stores) on specific fruits, vegetables & root crops to understand their local needs and in turn, help bring these products to market with local farmers.  One of the Purchasers we interviewed was Belmont Estate - previously a plantation & now an operating organic farm with a restaurant that is a wonderful setting for meetings, conferences or, weddings.  They grow cocoa beans, some vegetables and, goats.  Here's pictures of cocoa beans being dried, the Factory they partner with (The Grenadian Chocolate Factory) &, the end product that is very yummy.

 

Took a trip to Carriacou - a Parish of Grenada, much smaller (population 6,000), & a less rugged island that is a 90 minute boat ride to the north.  This is a picture of Hillsborough - the largest town on Carriacou, a fishing trowel being built and to the north about a 20 minute boat ride away is Petite Martinique - another island (or Parish) under Grenada.  In the distance you can see the many Grenadine Islands of St. Vincent.  So many little islands dot the sea... it's no wonder there is piracy in this area of the world.