100 tonnes of Fijian mature ginger destined for US market

100 tonnes of mature Fijian-grown ginger has made its way to the US markets in collaboration with the founders of the Ginger People.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica met with the founders of the Ginger People in New York at the United Nations Headquarters, which was organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission.

Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to North America, Alika Cooper, accompanied Kamikamica. In collaboration with supporting Fiji-based smallholder ginger farmers, the Ginger People founders are the largest North American importer of Fiji value-added ginger products and have been importing and distributing ginger products from Fiji for the past 11 years.

The group's local manufacturing partner in Fiji, Kaiming Agro Processing Ltd, also known as Kaiming Agro, is an agriculture-based, export-oriented food manufacturer and exporter, based in Navua.

They are involved with processing ginger value-added products and have 38 different varieties of ginger confectionary products, in addition to the export of turmeric and kava.

Other agenda discussed during the meeting was the support for Fiji Ginger value-added products, progressing the Fiji ginger industry and leveraging opportunities for smallholder ginger farmers.

The Ginger sector faces challenges in terms of market access, excess production and future opportunities for value-added products made from Fiji-grown ginger.

Kamikamica says their conversation was centred on purchasing some of the excess ginger that Fiji farmers have on the ground. At present, Kaiming Agro has been purchasing mature ginger for this order from small farmers first to assist them in selling their ginger.

They are also very pleased to meet with the Ginger People in September to build relationships and discuss future opportunities for Fiji Ginger.