'FARM TO TABLE' DINNERS IN ST. ELIZABETH - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 17
In sync with worldwide trends, the organic movement in Jamaica is spreading its wings throughout the country. Promoting organic, sustainable agriculture to farmers, hotels and homeowners through her company Banana Tree Consulting, Liz Solms is also using her expertise to creatively market fresh farm food from the Pedro Plains area in St. Elizabeth parish. In collaboration with Island Outpost’s Treasure Beach property Jake’s, her romantic ‘farm to table’ dinners in the hills of Jamaica to the backdrop of breathtaking scenery are becoming all the rage.
A sustainable agriculture advocate, Liz Solms came to Jamaica in 2005 in order to establish the island’s first organic farmers cooperative after receiving a prestigious grant from California’s ‘Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation’. An accomplished Chef with a minor in Caribbean studies and a culinary degree in community food education from Heifer International, the Pennsylvania native arrived on the island ready to take on the challenge of promoting and refining sustainable agriculture practices.
Perhaps it was a childhood firmly rooted in the urban environment of Philadelphia that compelled Liz to adventure deep into the bush and the mountains, in search of the island’s most natural and time-honored ways to grow crops. Drawing on previous experience working for international organizations that promote sustainable agriculture, Liz established the ‘Treasure Beach Ital Farmers Association’ with local farmers in the parish of St. Elizabeth, training the 4 founding farms in organic production, marketing, and distribution.
Through Banana Tree Consulting, Liz offers assistance to villas, hotels and commercial farms that wish to establish organic on-site gardens. Her expertise includes everything from the development of infrastructure to connection to the local supply chain of organic produce. Defined as food grown in harmony with nature without the use of synthetic or chemical fertilizers, on land that has been absent of chemicals for a minimum of 3 years. Jamaica’s organic food is certified by Jamaica Organic Agricultural Movement (JOAM), a voluntary organization. Recognized in Europe and Britain, JOAM promotes much stricter standards than are applied in the US, where food only needs to be 70% organically grown to achieve organic certification.
According to the agricultural expert, her greatest pleasure comes from providing small farmers with a viable market, while enhancing a hotel’s menu with beautiful, local produce. On any given day, you may find Liz up to her waist in a cassava field reasoning with a local farmer, or perhaps gardening shoulder to shoulder with a villa’s gardener, teaching the tricks of the organic trade. Today, Liz lives and works with three farms in the fruitful area of St. Elizabeth, a parish that she knows like the back of her hand. Affectionately called the ‘breadbasket’ of Jamaica, the region has rightfully earned its name due to the fact that a lot of the island’s produce is grown here.
Working with farmers, the idea of hosting farm dinners seemed to be a natural evolution. The fact that Jake’s, one of Island Outpost’s boutique hotels located on Treasure Beach, purchases its produce from small organic farms in St. Elizabeth, created the perfect match. In collaboration with Jake’s, Liz first introduced ‘farm to table’ dinners for people in Jamaica as a celebration of local farming, produce and cuisine. Explains Liz, “We want to bring people back to the source of the food, where it comes from and at the same time teach people the art and science of organic growing.”
Set on a small farm in the hills of St. Elizabeth, 10 minutes down the road from Jake’s, the scrumptious feast starts with appetizers and cocktails whipped up from the farm’s very own fresh fruit at 5:30 pm. Dinner is served under a large mango tree, on an elegant white linen table surrounded by lanterns placed in the middle of a field, bordered with curling vineyard-like rows of yam vines. Starting at 6:30 pm, dishes such as penne with fresh lime basil, local goat cheese crostini and chicken with dill yogurt sauce are served family-style in large bowls for up to 35 persons.
All meals are prepared using organic ingredients and paired perfectly with exquisite wines, provided by experts like Caribbean Producers Jamaica. “The meal consists of four courses including the appetizer and offers options for both vegetarians and meat lovers,” explains Liz. The plan is to invite celebrity chefs and wine sommeliers to the dinners and host honey experts for the tasting of their locally produced fare. With no electricity at the farm, the romantic atmosphere is emphasized by the sunset, the plethora of lit candles and the old-fashioned kerosene lamps. “Our dinners have a very special vibe and people usually leave having made new friends,” comments Liz.
While the farm dinners have received quite a bit of media coverage, the biggest marketing tool has been the island’s very effective word of mouth. “We get a lot of Kingstonians, who gladly take the 2 hour drive to St. Elizabeth to join our farm dinners,” explains Liz. Held the Saturday of each month that is closest to full moon, farm dinners are planned for April 16th, May 14th and June 11th.
Reserve your farm dinner spot by calling Jake’s at 965-3000 or visit www.islandoutpost.com. For information about organic farming in Jamaica, visit www.bananatreeconsulting.com
Reserve your place at the farm to table dinner!
A sustainable agriculture advocate, Liz Solms came to Jamaica in 2005 in order to establish the island’s first organic farmers cooperative after receiving a prestigious grant from California’s ‘Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation’. An accomplished Chef with a minor in Caribbean studies and a culinary degree in community food education from Heifer International, the Pennsylvania native arrived on the island ready to take on the challenge of promoting and refining sustainable agriculture practices.
Perhaps it was a childhood firmly rooted in the urban environment of Philadelphia that compelled Liz to adventure deep into the bush and the mountains, in search of the island’s most natural and time-honored ways to grow crops. Drawing on previous experience working for international organizations that promote sustainable agriculture, Liz established the ‘Treasure Beach Ital Farmers Association’ with local farmers in the parish of St. Elizabeth, training the 4 founding farms in organic production, marketing, and distribution.
Through Banana Tree Consulting, Liz offers assistance to villas, hotels and commercial farms that wish to establish organic on-site gardens. Her expertise includes everything from the development of infrastructure to connection to the local supply chain of organic produce. Defined as food grown in harmony with nature without the use of synthetic or chemical fertilizers, on land that has been absent of chemicals for a minimum of 3 years. Jamaica’s organic food is certified by Jamaica Organic Agricultural Movement (JOAM), a voluntary organization. Recognized in Europe and Britain, JOAM promotes much stricter standards than are applied in the US, where food only needs to be 70% organically grown to achieve organic certification.
According to the agricultural expert, her greatest pleasure comes from providing small farmers with a viable market, while enhancing a hotel’s menu with beautiful, local produce. On any given day, you may find Liz up to her waist in a cassava field reasoning with a local farmer, or perhaps gardening shoulder to shoulder with a villa’s gardener, teaching the tricks of the organic trade. Today, Liz lives and works with three farms in the fruitful area of St. Elizabeth, a parish that she knows like the back of her hand. Affectionately called the ‘breadbasket’ of Jamaica, the region has rightfully earned its name due to the fact that a lot of the island’s produce is grown here.
Working with farmers, the idea of hosting farm dinners seemed to be a natural evolution. The fact that Jake’s, one of Island Outpost’s boutique hotels located on Treasure Beach, purchases its produce from small organic farms in St. Elizabeth, created the perfect match. In collaboration with Jake’s, Liz first introduced ‘farm to table’ dinners for people in Jamaica as a celebration of local farming, produce and cuisine. Explains Liz, “We want to bring people back to the source of the food, where it comes from and at the same time teach people the art and science of organic growing.”
Set on a small farm in the hills of St. Elizabeth, 10 minutes down the road from Jake’s, the scrumptious feast starts with appetizers and cocktails whipped up from the farm’s very own fresh fruit at 5:30 pm. Dinner is served under a large mango tree, on an elegant white linen table surrounded by lanterns placed in the middle of a field, bordered with curling vineyard-like rows of yam vines. Starting at 6:30 pm, dishes such as penne with fresh lime basil, local goat cheese crostini and chicken with dill yogurt sauce are served family-style in large bowls for up to 35 persons.
All meals are prepared using organic ingredients and paired perfectly with exquisite wines, provided by experts like Caribbean Producers Jamaica. “The meal consists of four courses including the appetizer and offers options for both vegetarians and meat lovers,” explains Liz. The plan is to invite celebrity chefs and wine sommeliers to the dinners and host honey experts for the tasting of their locally produced fare. With no electricity at the farm, the romantic atmosphere is emphasized by the sunset, the plethora of lit candles and the old-fashioned kerosene lamps. “Our dinners have a very special vibe and people usually leave having made new friends,” comments Liz.
While the farm dinners have received quite a bit of media coverage, the biggest marketing tool has been the island’s very effective word of mouth. “We get a lot of Kingstonians, who gladly take the 2 hour drive to St. Elizabeth to join our farm dinners,” explains Liz. Held the Saturday of each month that is closest to full moon, farm dinners are planned for April 16th, May 14th and June 11th.
Reserve your farm dinner spot by calling Jake’s at 965-3000 or visit www.islandoutpost.com. For information about organic farming in Jamaica, visit www.bananatreeconsulting.com
Reserve your place at the farm to table dinner!
