Expo Jamaica brings out brands that truly are ‘Made in Jamaica’

It seems easy enough to just look for “Product of Jamaica” on labels and tags, but which part of the product was made in Jamaica?

With more information coming to light regarding fake labels, Jamaicans are having a more difficult time finding products that are truly locally made.

However, at this year’s staging of the trade show, Expo Jamaica, there were scores of Jamaican companies with their products on display.

Loop News caught up with several small business owners who noted that not only are their products locally made, but the materials that are used to make them are also local.

Bresheh, a company which makes a variety of customizable bags, told Loop News that all of it bags were made on the island out of materials that were manufactured locally.

The bag company also added that customers are given the option of choosing the type of materials they want to be used in their bag.

EasiSpice, a local seasoning company which has been in business for more than fifty years, said that with the exception of black pepper, they source all of their herbs and spices locally.

The company boasted being MSG-free and able to add flavour to any pot.

HDB distributors, a Red Hills road based company, launched their Malibu Fresh line of soaps at the expo, which mimic the smell of local fruits.

Several persons who stopped by the trade show also remarked on the variety of Jamaican products, which until Expo Jamaica they had never heard of or seen.

One young woman who was a first-time attendee, Deamdrea Latham, explained that the event made her hopeful about Jamaica’s future, as she expressed surprise at not just the variety of products but that many of the establishments were owned by young people.

“I am very happy to see other young people like myself attending the event and also as exhibitors at the event. Often you hear of the amount of young people that want to migrate and not the fact that there are many young people creating businesses and products. Expo Jamaica gave me hope for the country,” said Latham.

Expo Jamaica 2016 runs from April 14 to 17 at the National Arena and the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston and was hosted by the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) and the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), in partnership with the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).

Contributed by: Denieca Brown

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