AS the hype continues, Guyexpo saw thousands of patrons on the second night eagerly viewing and discussing with exhibitors their products. It was to many much a surprise that Guyana Supermarket was so well stocked with so many local produce.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali had alluded to during a recent press conference that GuyExpo 2014 will have several new features that are conceptually different from previous GuyExpos and this year “we will be

launching in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, The Eat What you Grow Campaign”. He explained also that this major innovation will be a 100% local supermarket “a large supermarket right here at the Exhibition site with an extensive array of local products and produce”.
Speaking exclusively to the Guyana Chronicle, Bakewell, a household name in homemade bread, noted that the company has been serving the country over the last 28 years producing bread, tennis rolls, pastries, cakes and other delicacies. Jacob, only name given, said that all products used are local and they have had tremendous support from our people over the years. He also said, “we are present here at the expo because we believe that even though we are a house hold name we can still educate people out there about our product.”
It was noted that many local fruits and vegetables vendors were seen selling their produce and patrons were excitedly buying. There were fruits available that many persons did not know are grown in Guyana; the ‘Suriname genip’ as it is commonly called a red spikey fruit was the high point for many patrons.
Inava a very new company, located in Cummings Street, is one of the first to pack fruit lemonade in a tetra – pack. A representative of the company noted that the lemonade comes in three flavours and is very easy on the pocket. She noted also that the company which is very new on the market is trying to get their name out there. Umani, a sister company, produces locally Chinese sauce, hot sauce, white vinegar, green seasoning, ketchup and all-purpose seasoning. This company as was related was launched in November 2013 and is currently seeing great returns.
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), this company was established in November 2008 and is located at Lichfield village West Coast Berbice. Their main purpose is to create employment for women and currently has been able to

employ some fifty women. YWCA makes an array of products such as pepper, tamarind, seasoning and mango products. Guyana Chronicle reporters were given samples from this booth and it was unanimously agreed that “the tamarind archar was very tasty”.
Marjorie Rodrigues from Moruca’s Finest Products are producers of authentic cassava bread, casareep, farine and roasted peanuts. Rodrigues noted that all their products are available at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs gift shop and her most popular product is the cassava bread. She explained that since the opening night patrons have been flocking her booth to purchase casareep for the upcoming Christmas holidays.
Dabi’s variety is somewhat different from the other exhibitors since their products are imported from Brazil and New Zealand in bulk quantities and then locally packaged. A representative from this entity explained that their signature product is the Nautra whole cream milk.
GuyExpo 2014 will continue today and Sunday at the National Exhibition Centre under the theme, ‘Transformation: Partnering for a Better Guyana.’

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)