Jamaica's Fine & Flavour Cocoa: Everything you need to know

Описание: The island of Jamaica is renowned for its fine and flavour cocoa.

As a member of the International Cocoa Organisation Jamaica is one of the 23 countries recognized as producers of fine and flavour cocoa.

According to the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Jamaica's cocoa is still in high demand with new markets being added since 2020, among them, The Netherlands, Italy and Japan.

Prior to that, Jamaica had been exporting cocoa beans to only countries such as Switzerland, France, Canada, England, Germany, and the United States.

The bulk of cocoa beans span two flush periods: from October to February and from May to August.

According to the Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies, In Jamaica, cocoa has many advantages as a crop.

For one, It is second only to forest in protecting the soil from erosion by the inter-locking of the foliage of adjacent trees.

Secondly, It will grow well on steep slopes which need protection.

Thirdly, It is less subject to praedial larceny than other crops.

It is easier to reap and sell than other crops.

Animals find the husks from its pods attractive as feed.

When planted under coconut trees, it suppresses weeds, thereby significantly reducing the cost of weeding.

Cocoa costs less to maintain than other crops.

Cocoa is the easiest tree crop to progagate.