Let Linstead Market Jamaica Products ‘Bring Out The Chef in You!’

Here I go again trying to support Jamaican farmers! Well, I have a personal interest in Jamaican farmers but we'll leave that for a later conversation!

Canco Ltd. (a.k.a. Linstead Market Jamaica; see article below) handpicks their farmers and suppliers based on the best harvesting practices so that only the best fruits and vegetables are used for the brand. And their processing activities are carried out in an environmentally sound manner. They meet the HACCP certification requirements for the highest food safety standard internationally for food processing. To top it off, the dedicated staff also comes mainly from the surrounding areas. This is a great thing; Seaforth and the surrounding communities in this easternmost part of Jamaica are very rural and the employment situation here is rough.

I bought some of their calaloo in the shop at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston a few months ago when leaving Jamaica. Let me tell you, the calaloo was delicious! You can recognize Linstead from the colorful label consisting of a design of a woman carrying fruit on her head and the words "Linstead Market Jamaica". They sell a good variety of products, including ackee, calaloo, sliced breadfruit, soup (Pepper Pot and Red Peas (my favorite! :yes: )), and yummy mango, sorrel, guava pineapple, banana grapefruit and coconut gourmet jams. Pick up the Red Peas in Coconut Milk, add rice and water and...voilá...instant Rice and Peas!

Besides the airports, I found many of Linstead's products online at ReggaeTreats.com . Check them out!

And now I'm inspired to write a little item about the real Linstead Market in St. Catherine parish; I may post that one tomorrow. In any event - eat Jamaican, support the farmers!! =P

Let Linstead Market Jamaica ‘Bring Out The Chef in You!’

02/15/2010
by Delroy A. Whyte-Hall

Nestled in a valley surrounded by the cools hills of St. Thomas is the small community of Seaforth where Canco Limited is located. They are producers of the Linstead Market Jamaica brand, formerly Country Choice. Most of our staff and suppliers of fruits and vegetables are from the surrounding areas and are familiar with the nearby farmlands. Fortunately this gives the company access to the “Pick of the crop” for its products which it prepares and processes in the most traditional Jamaican way… ‘Naturally!’

Canco, which has experienced steady growth over the years, has made and continue to make significant improvements to the infrastructure of the factory to facilitate product diversification and to meet international and environmental standards. As of March 2007, the factory was certified under the requirements of the management system standards, ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental Management System). All that was done in preparation for planned expansion of business into new markets.

Canco has been a producer of quality canned and bottled products for over twenty years (1986)....(continue reading at Let Linstead Market Jamaica ‘Bring Out The Chef in You!’ « The EXPOSURE!.