Caribbean Week of Agriculture will be held in the Cayman Islands 24-28 October 2016. Leading up to this event, we are highlighting ten youngsters who will be participating in a Youth Pavilion exhibition during the CWA.
Our youth agri-preneuer in focus today is Graceson John, a 27-year-old from Dominica who specialises in flavoured pepper sauces, seasoning sauces and salad dressings.
His business is called Big G’S Pepper Sauce. According to John, the business started in April 2014, creating and developing more than 21 different innovative and creative flavors of pepper, for example coconut, cinnamon, coffee and tumeric.
He revealed that the business started to supply supermarkets in January of 2015 and also personal exports in the Caribbean . In the past 2 years Big G’S pepper sauce has won numerous awards namely the entrepreneur of the year award 2015 and also the regional start up entrepreneur award 2015 in the youth business international regional awards.
I choose this business because of my love and passion for cooking and I also major in agriculture science at the Dominica State College… I have also won a few cooking awards in the past, for example, the president’s dinner plate competition 2012 and 2013.
When asked what to expect from his exhibit at the CWA, he said patrons should be prepared to see the most innovative and creative flavoured pepper sauces in the Caribbean and also all purpose sauces and seasoning sauces.
Speaking about a recent CEBO training opportunity which he benefitted from in Trinidad and Tobago, John said it showed him the importance of a business plan and also to keep updating a business plan.
He also had some salient advice for future young entrepreneurs.
My advice for all young people who are in the process or even thinking to start an agri-business is to stay focused. Be prepared to work and, most importantly, have that love and passion for what you do then you will reap the rewards as time goes by. I am looking forward to impressing you guys at the exhibit,” he said.
