Coconut water compromise?
In light of reports that local agricultural representatives are not impressed with the decision by BICO to import bottled coconut water from CARICOM for distribution in Barbados, BICO Limited’s Executive Chairman Edwin Thirwell is saying that the company is more than willing to work with local growers to store and supply locally produced coconut water.
Speaking during a press conference at BICO’s Harbour Road, St Michael, headquarters, yesterday, Thirwell noted that the company stood by its decision, while making it clear that it is a fact that there is not enough local coconut water available in Barbados to consistently supply the current or potential market demand.
He also stressed that people must be given a choice of the type of water they want to consume.
The company also indicated that buyers find coconut water stored in small bottles to be convenient.
He also advised local agricultural representatives that BICO supports local agriculture and stand ready to assist in the area of expertise.
“We are not farmers or growers, but if you plant the trees and harvest the produce, we are ready to work with you, and we can even assist with labelling and other requirements,” he said.
Thirwell said while he too bought coconut water at the roadside, particularly on the West Coast, there are days when he cannot find any because the vendors are either not there, or, they are sold out.
“Barbados is not known for having plantations of coconut trees, I don’t think I know a single one. I know people have got five or six, I know people have got one coconut tree, I have got actually two, but it’s almost a backyard thing here. Whereas, if you go to Guyana for example, they have got more coconuts than they know what to do with. They have got acres and acres of coconuts that they are looking for a market for,” he said.
Just last month, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, called a press conference where he revealed to the media that some 900 cases of coconut water from Guyana had been imported into the island by a private sector entity to be sold on the local market. Paul said this could spell doom for the country’s now developing coconut water industry, while pointing out several fledgling industries that had run into the ground due to cheaper imports. An adamant Paul insisted that imports must be regularised.
However, Thirwell said that while BICO’s goal is to do whatever is possible to generate business in Barbados first, the company is forced to look regionally and internationally for products that are not available on the local market.
“Now, just as we can’t sell what people want to buy, similarly we won’t import what we don’t think there is a market for. So we are looking to see where there is a need, can we fullfil that need, can we do it better, can we do it more economically. . .?” he said. (AH)