Last week we took you into the hot mamas processing plant in Unitedville. Most of the pepper processed in Unitedville is grown in Camalote at the Habanero Farm. They currently have more than 9 acres of red habanero peppers under production. Most of it will be exported as fresh pepper and that is because according to the farm’s owner Bill Cheek, pepper is Belize’s most promising export product.
Bill Cheek, Habanero Farm
“We are growing peppers for Hot Mamas. We’re also exporting on the fresh market and trying to do everything we can to try to get the pepper industry up in Belize. Right now we have West Indian Red and also Yellow Scotch Bonnet.”
Keith Swift,
We know you recently had to replant your fields. Why was that?
Bill Cheek,
“Because of the floods we lost, all of our farmers lost peppers. We don’t just grow for ourselves but we have other local farmers that participate in programs with us through the Ministry of Agriculture that backs this program 100%. It has been strong in helping us keep things going.
We will be producing, when this gets up to our full production status, we will be doing someway around 1,000 to 1,500 pounds per week per acre. We are trying to get some of our areas to where we could ship to different places. We have other Caribbean islands that are interested in pepper.”
Keith Swift,
What is the potential for pepper in Belize?
Bill Cheek,
“Personally I believe it could be in the top five things produced in Belize if we could stick behind it, stick with the program, and keep on doing what we’re doing right now.”
In 2007 Belize exported 812,000 pounds of pepper sauce which earned $1,687,000.
