Agro-processors capitalise on mini Mash Market Expo

A number of the country’s agro-processors on Saturday participated in the Republic Day celebrations by showcasing their produce and products at the inaugural mini Mash Market Expo.
The market expo was organised by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) in collaboration with Coss Cutters Supermarket, in observance of the country’s 50th Republic Day anniversary, which will be celebrated today.
The pre-Mash event took place at the supermarket’s Farm, East Bank Demerara location and saw a fair number of buyers when it kickstarted in the late morning hours.
Public Relations Officer of the Marketing Corporation, Chevon Nedd shared with Guyana Times that the new initiative is focused on giving locally produced items the publicity they need.

Nedd added that the GMC looks forward to partnering with other supermarkets in the future to not only host these events but also put more of these locals on their shelves.
“It’s like a networking opportunity for them and also an effort to promote local products getting them into the supermarket…We’re hoping that other supermarkets come on board and partner with us to host these events and we’re also hoping that other supermarkets are enthusiastic when it comes to promoting local,” She noted.
The mini-market featured over 40 agro-processors and farmers of items such as coconut-based products, food seasonings, flour, cassava products among others.
During brief interviews with this publication, exhibitors lauded the hosting of the expo and called for similar events to be held within other regions.
Shania Evans, a representative of local agro-processing business, Indigenous Coconut Oil expressed, “Events like this help the public to get aware of the products and to support it as well and we’re really thankful for everything these events do”.
Meanwhile, Vishal Quality Food Products representative, Ragnauth Persaud spoke to the need of event locations whereby producers are guaranteed to have sales.
Similar views were expressed by Akeem Williams, who spoke on behalf of the Guyana School of Agriculture.
“I think these exhibitions are important just to educate our citizens about the stuff that Guyana is going into which is agro-processing which is the next way forward in this country…A bigger venue and more people invited because I know there’s a lot of agro-processors in the country, probably an hinterland area,” Williams stated.