DAMION Da Silva is on a mission to provide Guyanese with healthy fruit- flavoured ice creams to satisfy their desires. This is done by transforming locally produced fruit juices such as soursop, cherries, passion fruit, and guava into delicious ice-creams.

Da Silva started making ice creams three years ago, expanding the line of products available at Nicky’s Natural Fruit Juices & Ice cream. Initially, the businessman’s primary product was fruit juice. However, after being exposed to fruit flavoured ice creams during a trip to Brazil, he made the strategic business decision of producing ice-creams.

“I was in Brazil looking for equipment for my juice business when I came across soursop ice-cream in an ice-cream parlour. Immediately I started thinking of doing the same thing back home. So when I returned to Guyana I ventured into ice-cream making using my fruit juices. If you melt my ice-creams you could drink them as juices,” Da Silva said.

This decision has proven to be profitable. The 100-percent locally produced ice- creams are big hits among consumers. They are available at the company’s three locations: Albert Street, Camp Street and City Mall. Da Silva intends to increase the number of retail outlets to have this product widely distributed across Guyana. Currently, he employs 16 staff, who are involved in the different stages of his retail operations.

He employs another six persons, who work on his 35-acre farm situated at Namyrck Backdam, East Bank Essequibo. Da Silva established his farm many moons ago to supply his fruit juice business, which was established in 1994. Having realised that the price for fresh fruits on the local market was controlled by demand and supply Da Silva decided to start farming.

“I started out selling a gallon of fruit juice a day and then my business started to expand. So, I decided to start planting. I brought in some seeds and the others I got from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).This started a long-standing relationship with NAREI. Extension Officers visit my farm from time to time to provide technical support,” the businessman noted.

Today, the majority of the fruits used to produce juices and ice creams are grown on his farm. He also purchases fruits in bulk from other farmers depending on the price and quality of produce. Fruits that are not used immediately are kept in a cold storage facility. Having fruits at hand is essential since the company produces hundreds of gallons of fruit juices daily.

While, Da Silva loves to farm, he says it entails a lot of work and long hours. As such, when his retail business expands he will be purchasing the additional fruits from farmers. This would also benefit other farmers financially, Da Silva said.
He is proud of his achievement to date. Da Silva is pleased that he could provide Guyanese with healthy choices.