JP Farms wins agriculture award

Now in its 20th year, the NQA is Jamaica’s premier quality system-based awards programme, celebrating outstanding performance in the Manufacturing, Service, Agriculture, and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) sectors. The agriculture category was introduced in the 2015-2016 renewal of the programme, highlighting the sector’s critical role in national development.

The awards ceremony, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Thursday, January 30, 2025, featured remarks from distinguished guests, including Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, who underscored the importance of exports in Jamaica’s economic trajectory.

Mario Figueroa, General Manager of the St. Mary-based JP Farms, emphasised the resilience and strategic expansion of the farm in the wake of challenges, stating, “We are incredibly honoured to receive this award, which reaffirms our commitment to quality and innovation in Jamaican agriculture. Despite the setbacks caused by Hurricane Beryl, our recovery programmes enabled us to rebound faster than we anticipated.”

“Our focus remains on strengthening banana production, expanding plantain cultivation, diversifying our crops, supplying the local market and increasing food exports. The team is enthusiastic about reaping the fruits of our labour and this award shows we are one step closer,” he continued.

The significance of export-driven growth was reinforced by Senator Hill who urged Jamaican businesses to shift their focus towards international markets as a means of income. He said, “We have to make sure that we use [a high standard] of management to get growth – that means we have to bring in investors. Also, the big businesses here that have the money, we want to see them not only trading but getting into services that we can export.”

Further in his keynote address he asserted that foreign investment alone will not make Jamaica rich and that it is time local businesses take ownership of the country’s economic future by expanding export capabilities, increasing value-added production, and positioning Jamaica as a leader in regional trade. JP Farms, operators of Jamaica’s largest banana farm and a leader in Jamaica’s agricultural sector, is a prime example of how Jamaicans can leverage agricultural excellence to drive economic growth.

The National Quality Awards highlight five key areas of excellence: Organisational Focus, Customer Focus, Human Resource Focus, Process Management, and Business Results. JP Farms underwent a rigorous evaluation process, including a detailed self-assessment and an extensive audit conducted by BSJ-appointed auditors, ultimately emerging as the top performer in the agricultural sector.

The NQA recognition highlights the farms division’s dedication and role in shaping the future of Jamaican agriculture and serves as both an endorsement of its achievements and a call to action for the broader agricultural sector to embrace quality, resilience, innovation and export.  With the steadfast support of stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, The Banana Board and other partners, JP Farms has announced that their banana production has returned to 95% capacity since the passing of Hurricane Beryl. Committed to maintaining the exceptional standards and quality that define their standards, JP Farms continues to work smart to expand its operations and export markets.