Strawberry farmer looks to capture Valentine’s shoppers

In the middle of the pedestrian traffic going in and out of a supermarket in the Liguanea area on the weekend, it was hard not to notice a man holding a box with individually packaged strawberries - bright red and distinctly aromatic.

"Strawberries, strawberries, get your strawberries and strawberry plants," he announced. The fruits, which are synonymous with Valentine's Day, caught the attention of a few passers-by.

Windell Smith, who was born and raised in Cedar Grove, Mandeville, Manchester, told THE STAR that the Corporate Area is a go-to place and popular sales location for the strawberries, once they are in season. The plants are nurtured from the end of July through to December when they start to bear fruit.

"I travel all 'bout; Negril, Montego Bay and Junction, St Elizabeth, and even in the market in town sometimes," Smith said. He comes from a family of strawberry farmers and often drives with his brother in search of sales. For the Valentine's weekend, the Corporate Area was the choice location.

"Me grow come see my father, whose name was Harvey Smith, grow strawberry and, over time, me learn and just start do it more," the 65-year-old said about understanding and improving the technique over the years.

Smith explained that not a lot of persons understand the amount of care that goes into growing strawberries locally, especially in the hot climate. He is not part of any of the local agricultural programmes and continues to grow the fruits on a small scale. Currently, he sells one package, which holds approximately 15 to 18 strawberries weighing half a pound, for $1,000. With the demand, he is hoping to make a big profit to reinvest in the growing of new plants this August.

"We continue to travel back and forth once we have di fruit, which bears until around May. Then we will start replanting. But some of our best sales happens for this occasion," Smith shared.

"Lots of people are also interested to buy the plant, they want to see if they can grow them too. By end ah di day, hoping to sell all the strawberries."