Even as the role of coconut continues to grow in significance, the recent revelation that regional supplies of the fruit may be dwindling to the detriment of the continually expanding demand for its by-products is one that must be taken seriously, Raymond Trotz, Chairman of the National Coconut Stakeholders Platform told Stabroek Business.
Last week, Trotz told this newspaper that consultations among local, regional and international participants at next month’s Coconut Festival due to be held here is likely to lend attention to a recent report published by the Manhattan-based media group Bloomberg that the Caribbean may be on the threshold of a major coconut shortage that could seriously affect supplies of its water, oil and other by-products on the US market.
In a telephone interview with Stabroek Business earlier this week Trotz, proprietor of the coconut water brand, Phoenix, said that while he was personally still to verify the claims of an impending regional coconut shortage made in the Bloomberg report, he was “not surprised” by the report.