In pursuit of what the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) says is its sustained drive to optimise market opportunities for local agricultural and agro-processed produce among local consumers, the state agency will, on Friday, February 22, stage a Mini Mash Market Expo in collaboration with Coss Cutters at its Farm, East Bank Demerara, outlet.
Stabroek Business understands that the pre-Mash Day 11:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs event is intended, in the first instance, to sustain the GMC’s pursuit of its drive to render local food products more accessible to communities across the country through what it describes as its Guyana Shop Corner.
While the focus of the event will pay particular attention to further extending the market for local produce, an official of the GMC told this newspaper that the occasion will also seek to reflect the spirit of this year’s Mashramani celebrations being staged to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Guyana’s attainment of republican status. As such, the product launch and display event will share the stage with the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra and other ‘side shows’ that will be staged to reflect the spirit of the season.
Apart from representing what in some instances will be the first significant outing for some of the local products to be found on the shelves of the Robb & Alexander streets Guyana Shop, the Mini Mash Market Expo will feature some of the better-known brands including Umami, Majors, Taste Setters, JUV and Roosters Coconut Water. And with Coss Cutters reportedly aiming to expand its range of local produce, the GMC has also invited a number of farmers to attend the just one week away event, and mindful of the optional ‘outings’ afforded by the Mash season, the GMC says that it will be stepping up its promotion of the event in the week ahead.
The Corporation is challenging itself to attract some the customary attendees at its Farmers’ Market event as well as to invoke a measure of interest at the level of the East Bank community where the event is being held and from neighbouring communities.
In mid-2019, Coss Cutters, a Trinidad and Tobago-owned company, brought its popular supermarket brand to Guyana. Apart from its Farm, East Bank Demerara outlet, the brand also boasts a second outlet on Sheriff Street in Georgetown.
