‘Eat Jamaican’ Month 2020 – HOW IT STARTED ...
THE ‘ EAT Jamaican’ Campaign was launched by the late Governor General of Jamaica Sir Howard Cooke, through a proclamation that was issued on November 25, 2003, declaring November 25 annually as ‘Eat Jamaican’ Day. His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, through another proclamation that was issued on November 25, 2017, declared November as ‘Eat Jamaican’ Month annually. The campaign is normally commemorated through a series of activities which seeks to capture the essence of the proclamation.
This campaign was borne out of a vision for us as a nation to ‘grow what we eat and eat what we grow’, recognising that this is the way to reposition the Jamaican agricultural sector through a process of integrated rural development, as well as to develop a programme of sustainable food security.
It is the hope that with the support of consumers, policymakers and farmers that this campaign will result in greater consumption of Jamaican agricultural produce that will continue to increase local food production, as well as enhance Jamaican branded products to ensure consistency in supply.
It has been the task of the JAS to urge consumers to recognise, support and to have a greater appreciation for the range and quality of Jamaica’s agricultural produce and products.
The objectives of the campaign therefore include:
1.
To re-establish the fact that Jamaica is an agricultural country; that our richest heritage accrues from rural farming communities; that all our best attitudes and values are to be found in the traditional Jamaican ‘country life’; and that central to our Jamaican culture is the food that we produce and the ways
in which we prepare them. 2.
Provide i nformation on the dimensions of Jamaica’s farming sector, from the small subsistent farmer to the large farming operations; the economic i mportance in terms of jobs and income generation; the success stories, as well as the struggle for survival.
3.
To lift the morale of our farmers and their communities, reawaken their appetite for production, while, at the same time, attracting new and young farmers to the sector.
4.
To be repositioned as the viable and relevant farmers’ organisation adding value to its membership by helping to create an atmosphere where wealth can be generated for all through the influencing of policies that will benefit the sector.
5.
To celebrate the glories of Jamaican cuisine culture, many examples of which are the heart and soul of food festivals.
6.
To promote the linkages between the agricultural and tourism sector.
This year marks the 17th anniversary of the campaign and the activities have been realigned against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACTIVITIES
• Virtual Launch Tuesday, November 10, 2020
• Virtual ‘Eat Jamaican’ Day National Ceremony Wednesday November 25, 2020
FEATURES:
• An official ceremony
• Cultural performance
• Demonstration & sampling of Jamaican cuisine ‘Grow What We Eat … Eat What We Grow’.