Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurants, a family-owned Jamaican food company with more than 100 locations across the United States, has launched a 3 million Jamaican dollar agricultural recovery initiative to support small farmers in Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™.
The first phase of the initiative is being carried out in partnership with the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) and provides direct assistance to 10 farmers across Saint Elizabeth, Clarendon, Saint Catherine, Saint Mary, and Manchester. Each farmer received J$300,000 in seedlings, farming equipment, fertilizer, and essential supplies to replant and restart production after sustaining crop losses, flooding, and damage to farm infrastructure during the storm, notes the release.
Golden Krust’s leadership team traveled to Jamaica as part of the rollout. They distributed supplies, assessed damage, and met with farmers who supply the ingredients used in the company’s products across North America. Those ingredients include scotch bonnet peppers, escallion, thyme, and other seasonings that are central to Golden Krust’s patties and prepared foods, per the release.
“Hurricane Melissa had a severe impact on farmers across Jamaica, and we recognize how difficult it has been for many to restart after such a significant loss,” Golden Krust Chairman and CEO Jacqueline Hawthorne-Robinson said in the release.
She described the initiative as the first step in a longer-term rehabilitation effort.
“These farmers are part of our extended Golden Krust family. It was their labour and commitment that helped shape the Jamaican flavours we’re known for,” Hawthorne-Robinson added. “This effort is about helping families rebuild, protecting livelihoods, and strengthening the agricultural communities that are essential to Jamaica’s future.”
Luke Lee, director of Clarendon-based Gen Paradise Company Limited, said in the release that Hurricane Melissa caused extensive flooding and structural damage to his farm and greenhouses, forcing production to pause.
“This land means a whole lot to us, and we’ve invested a lot of time and energy into its growth,” he said.
“The support from Golden Krust is immeasurable. Them being here in person has really lifted our spirits. We know we have a partner who is not only just talk, but who takes action, and that is where the rubber meets the road,” he continued.
Lee also stated that the materials provided through the initiative will help shorten recovery time and allow farmers to resume planting sooner than would otherwise be possible.
Golden Krust executives reported that the recovery effort is closely linked to the company’s sourcing model. Steven Clarke, vice president of marketing, said Jamaican-grown ingredients are foundational to the brand’s products, noting that the stability of local agriculture helps Golden Krust maintain consistent flavor across their menu.
“Every Golden Krust patty carries a piece of Jamaica within it,” Clarke said. “For nearly three decades, our scotch bonnet peppers and thyme have come directly from farms like the ones we visited across the island this week.”
Clarke added that supporting farmers following the storm is part of protecting the integrity of the company’s supply chain.
The agricultural recovery initiative is one component of Golden Krust’s broader Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. As the release states, the company has organized fundraising and donation drives across its U.S. restaurant network and collaborated with organizations including the N.C.B. Foundation, Food For The Poor, Global Empowerment Mission, the Sanmerna Foundation, Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, JetBlue, and Dennis Shipping. These partnerships have supported the distribution of food supplies, household items, and other aid across affected areas in Jamaica.
Golden Krust also partnered with U.S.-based distributor, Imperial Dade, to deliver more than J$300,000 worth of medical supplies to Jamaica’s Ministry of Health.
Christopher Hylton, Golden Krust’s director of quality control, said visiting the farms highlighted both the extent of the damage and the challenges farmers face as they work to recover.
“Seeing the damage firsthand was difficult, but witnessing the resilience of these farmers reaffirmed why we needed to show up,” he said, per the press release.
“Farmers are essential to Jamaica’s agricultural backbone. This support goes beyond immediate recovery, it’s an investment in the stability of our food systems and in protecting the heritage of the flavours that make Jamaican cuisine unique,” he added.
