The fruit sub-sector in the Windward Islands: diagnosis, strategy, actions

Abstract

The conceptual framework of the study was based on the fact that successful marketing necessitates being able to supply continuous quantities of quality produce at competitive prices, assuring that the commodity is available at the proper place and at the proper time. The analysis covered the following four broad areas: macro-environment and institutional structure; pre-production, production and harvest; postharvest handling and marketing. The results of the diagnosis are presented by country and by commodity, in addition to a regional overview of the four areas mentioned above. A brief analysis was carried out on the two principal regional experiences in marketing, namely CATCO and WINBAN. A summary of the lessons learned from these two experiences is included. Appendices to the diagnosis include summary conclusions, trade statistics and baseline information on farmers organizations, all on a country basis. Data collected on crops concentrated on mangoes, avocadoes, grapefruit, oranges, limes, breadfruit and plantain. Crops such as soursop, sugarapple, goldenapple, guava, passion fruit, papaya and a few others, are produced in relatively large amounts in some of the islands; however, in general they tend to be more scattered, less standardized and highly perishable, thus less conductive to a joint marketing effort.