JACRA leads major replanting drive on Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day
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Examining coffee seeds (from left) are Juliet Holness, member of parliament for St Andrew East Rural and Speaker of the House of Representatives; Dr Norman Grant, chairman of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association; Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining; Donald Salmon, president of the Jamaica Coffee Growers Association; Wayne Hunter, acting director general, Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority; and Doranie Sergeant, director of finance at the Tourism Enhancement Fund; during the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day celebrations held on Friday at Guava Ridge Basic School in Guava Ridge, St Andrew.
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Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green plants a coffee seedling on the grounds of the Guava Ridge Basic School during a planting exercise on Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day on Friday.
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State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge proudly poses with his planted coffee seedling on the grounds of the Guava Ridge Basic School during a planting exercise on Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day on Friday.
The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) on Friday marked Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day with the launch of a major replanting and recovery initiative aimed at restoring coffee farms in the Blue Mountain region following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The observance, held under the theme ‘Rooted in Recovery: Rebuilding Together’, brought together senior government officials, farmers, industry stakeholders, development partners, and members of the diplomatic corps at the Guava Ridge Basic School in St Andrew.
Central to the day’s activities was a ceremonial planting exercise symbolising renewal, resilience, and the long-term rebuilding of Jamaica’s world-renowned coffee industry.
Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage to coffee farms across St Andrew, Portland, and St Thomas. Despite these setbacks, the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, and JACRA, has moved decisively to support farmers and stabilise the sector.
Delivering the keynote address, Agriculture Minister Floyd Green reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the industry and the farmers at its core.
“Three months ago, Hurricane Melissa tested this industry. Today, I stand here with gratitude that while our sector was bent, it was not broken,” Green said. “At the heart of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee are our hardworking farmers, and our responsibility is to ensure they are supported as they rebuild and return to full production.”
As part of the recovery programme, Green announced that 15,000 coffee seedlings have already been distributed to affected farmers, alongside a $120-million government investment in fertilisers, herbicides, fungicides, and other critical inputs to restore soil health and improve farm productivity.
“Recovery requires more than seedlings,” the minister noted. “These resources are being directed to help farmers restore capacity, protect crops, and ensure that Jamaica remains able to meet strong international demand for its premium coffee.”
Beyond recovery
Wayne Hunter, acting director general of JACRA, emphasised that the Authority’s role extends beyond recovery to safeguarding the integrity and global reputation of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.
“JACRA’s responsibility is two-fold: to stand with farmers during recovery and to protect the standards, certification systems, and geographic integrity that define Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee,” Hunter said. “Every seedling planted today represents confidence in our farmers and in the future of this industry.”
He added that JACRA will continue to provide technical guidance through its Crop Restoration and Establishment Programme, while working closely with partners across the value chain to ensure recovery efforts are coordinated, sustainable, and future-focused.
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day, observed annually on January 9, celebrates one of the country’s most iconic agricultural products and the communities that sustain it. This year’s observance carried added significance, serving as both a moment of reflection and a clear signal of action following consecutive climate-related shocks to the sector.
More than 80 per cent of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is exported, with demand remaining strong in key international markets. Government officials stressed that protecting the crop’s premium reputation is essential to farmer incomes, foreign exchange earnings, and Brand Jamaica.
As the ceremonial planting concluded, participants reaffirmed a shared commitment to rebuilding the industry stronger and more resilient.
“This is about restoring confidence across the sector,” Green said. “By supporting our farmers today, we are ensuring that Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee continues to represent excellence tomorrow.”
JACRA reiterated that it remains firmly committed to leading the recovery process and working with farmers, exporters, and partners to ensure that the Blue Mountains continue to produce coffee worthy of its global acclaim.