A Mabaruma farmer, in a bid to add value to his produce and minimise wastage in the process, has turned to dried fruit production, recently launching his highly demanded dried watermelon and pineapple products at this year’s UncappeD expo.
The business, Ebesowana Natural Foods—“Ebesowana” being an Arawak word meaning “to change and transform”— aptly reflects the vision of entrepreneur, Andrew Campbell, who aims to inspire change in the way Guyanese utilise food, an article from the Department of Public Information (DPI) noted.
“My main idea is to prevent wastage and to support farmers as much as possible because being a farmer, I know that there are many challenges. With dried fruit, we get better prices, and it helps to preserve our products,” Campbell explained to DPI.
All products produced by Ebesowana are organic and supplied by Campbell’s farm in Mabaruma. The businessman stated that they do not believe in using products which damage the environment or have undergone chemical processing and extensive heat application, as it goes against their belief in the provision of a nutritious and healthy lifestyle.
The article related that the former teacher, following his resignation, began actively volunteering in the hinterland regions, and after returning from a field expedition in Rewa Village, Rupununi in 2018, applied to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for a grant.
Impressed by his proposal, Campbell was awarded the funding, valued close to $420,000, which he used to purchase dehydrators, a grinding machine and packaging.
The article noted that Campbell began by producing dried ginger, and while this market was profitable, he wanted to explore drying fruits, which contain a higher sugar content. For this reason, he began producing guavas, pineapples, cherries, watermelons, mangoes, avocadoes, papayas, bananas and sapodillas.
While dried bananas, watermelons and pineapples are currently on his lineup of dried fruit flavours, it is the dried watermelons and pineapples that have attracted the most attention.
Campbell also told DPI that UncappeD helped him tremendously with selling his products, and said that his dried watermelon has been in high demand since his exposure.
Campbell explained that because watermelons have such a high water content, they cannot be sun dried, and take up to 24 hours to dry with the use of electronic dehydrators. Once fully dried, however, the fruit takes on a taffy-like quality, and can be eaten as a snack. It was added that the dry watermelon’s strong distinctive flavour will prohibit mixing with other fruits.
The products have been launched at various cafés, including Java, Beacon and the Backyard Café.
For enquiries, Ebesowana Natural Foods can be reached at email, campbellaj18@gmail.com or contacted on mobile number 665-8306.
