Ministry of Agriculture
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Coffee Industry has Maintained Standard -Dr Tufton
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MANDEVILLE (JIS):
Monday, February 02, 2009
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| Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton (left), listens keenly as Production Manager at Jamaica Standard Products Limited, at Williamsfield, Manchester, Kenroy Hord (centre), explains the operations of the company. Dr. Tufton, along with personnel from his Ministry and the Coffee Industry Board, toured facilities run by the company in Manchester, Clarendon, and St. Ann, on January 29.
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The coffee industry has maintained its production of high quality products over the years, which has received international recognition resulting in significant benefits to the country.
This, according to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, who made the observation the comments while on a tour of coffee processing and manufacturing facilities run by Jamaica Standards Products, in Manchester, Clarendon and St. Ann, on Thursday (January 29).
"The coffee industry has established a standard that has been recognized internationally, and that carries with it a level of satisfaction by those who consume the products, and it allows us to earn value from that activity in a consistent manner, and we should not lose the significance of that achievement," he emphasized.
Dr. Tufton pointed out that while the market is open for one brand of Jamaican coffee "significant opportunities exist for non-Blue Mountain coffee, and I have mandated the Coffee Industry Board (CIB) to look at our achievements, and device strategies to expand on those achievements, so that we continue to benefit from Blue Mountain coffee, and expand on High Mountain coffee," he said.
The Minister said when he discusses agriculture with end-users locally and overseas the issue of consistency remains a concern for them. He encouraged producers to ensure that their products have the highest quality so that they can be competitive in a sensitive marketplace.
"The marketplace that we are forced to compete in has changed significantly overtime, so quality and standard have to be maintained from the processing to packaging. And Jamaica Standard Products, has continued to produce an excellent brand of coffee, add commendations are due to them," Minister Tufton outlined.
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