St. George Farmers' Marketing Co-op Society

In 1982, a group of small farmers from St. George and St. Michael, were part of a

project entitled, “A Marketing Plan for Small Farmers in Barbados”, sponsored by the

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). At the conclusion of the

project, the farming group transitioned from a loosely coordinated arrangement to a

formal organization and the St. George Farmers’ Cooperative Society was registered on

March 19th, 1985.

The initial meetings of the Society’s Interim Committee were held at the home of one of

the founding farmers namely, Ms. Enid Holder, of St. Helens, St. George. The first

Annual General Meeting was held on April 17th, 1985, at Workman’s Primary School,

St. George.

On June 27th 1985 a permanent fruit and vegetable retail outlet was established and

officially opened. This building, which has been refurbished over the years, is located at

Glebe Land, St. George.

The development of the organization was ably assisted by Extension Staff of the

Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC). Additionally,

construction funds were secured from the BADMC’s Rural Development Project

(BADMC – RDP) which was facilitated by its officers Ms. Marcia Marville and Mr.

Richard Knight. The Co-operative Department also assisted in the advancement of the

St. George Farmers’ Cooperative through the work of its officer Mr. Trevor Caluchi, who

was instrumental in the development of the Society’s By-laws.

As business increased, a grant was secured in 1989 from the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID), to purchase a walk-in chiller, where initially,

members and non-members were allowed to store produce at a small fee.

Several decades later, the Society has, with its partners, continued to promote growth,

adaptation and development in the agricultural sector and the wider co-operative

community.

Contact Retail Outlet: 436-8106