Pre-cooked pepper-pot and cookup – standout offerings in Guyanese cuisine – are among a host of products seeking overseas markets in a USAID-funded programme.
According to a release on Friday from the Guyana Economic Development Trust (GETD), forty-two agro-processors from across the country submitted their locally made products to the recently announced Economic Development Accelerator (EDA) grant programme.
The EDA programme was designed and is being implemented by the
GEDT, a U.S. and Guyana-based initiative that supports
Guyanese innovation in science, technology and agriculture. It is fully funded by the
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The application process for the EDA was opened in July and attracted more than 70
agro-processors. Following the application process, agro-innovators submitted their
products for tasting/sampling and general evaluation.
On September 14th, 2021, the release said that a tasting event for the food-based products was held at the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre. Forty-two of the applicants submitted their products to be tasted by chefs and caterers. The release said that there were a variety of submissions ranging from pepper sauces to seasonings, and a number of unique items such as pre-cooked pepper-pot (mainly meats cooked in the cassava-derived sauce casareep) and pre-cooked cookup (predominantly rice, lentils, meat and coconut milk) which were packaged for supermarket shelves, sweet potato cake mix, and other items.
USAID’s Eastern and Southern Caribbean Senior Development Advisor, Philip Schwehm also attended and participated in the tasting. According to the release, he stated that he was very impressed with the quantity and variety of the submissions. Chefs Sarafina Edghill and Dougal Kirkpatrick, who were on the panel, expressed similar sentiments.
“There was a variety of local stuff which was very interesting. I was amazed because I
wasn’t expecting this much, and for several of them I was very impressed. I would,
however, advise them to work on presentation and packaging so that we can represent
Guyana to the best of our ability,” Edghill commented.
Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick’s Enterprise, said that even though the products were
impressive, there is still some work to be done to elevate them to export standards.
The release said that the EDA programme will choose 30 of these agro-processors and provide training and hands-on technical help from international and regional consumer packaged goods experts. A partnership with New York University’s Stern School of
Business will also allow MBA mentors and industry experts to work with the Guyanese
Businesses and the goal is to help participants improve their products for international export.
The 30 chosen applicants will also compete for grants which will ultimately be awarded to five of the most promising companies, to help them scale their operations and export their products.
