OWEN DeSouza is a household name in Linden and Guyana at large, particularly in the coconut and agro-processing arena. He is one of the first coconut farmers turned agro-processors in the mining town, with his quality and well packaged virgin coconut oil.

Realising that there is more to coconut than coconut oil, in addition to the market being saturated with coconut oil products, DeSouza ventured into making coconut soaps, hair and sweet oils and other cosmetic products, all sourced from coconut from his Block 22 farm and processed and packaged at the ‘bottom house’ factory.

While he was able to capture the niche market well, DeSouza soon ventured into concocting his products with other fruits and herbs, such as pawpaw, moringa and avocado. His attention however soon ventured back to his first love; coconut, the golden fruit as it is called, that has over 100 uses. Since he grew up on a coconut farm at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, he knew there were so many other things to do with the golden fruit, on his bucket list, that needed ticking off.

The agro-processor has recently launched, just in time for the holidays, coconut cassareep and coconut wine. While coconut wine is not a new concept, it has caught the eyes of many with its ‘export-market standard’ packaging, not forgetting its ‘can’t get enough of’’ taste, it is the coconut cassareep that is turning heads, more so that the Pepperpot must be on the menu for Christmas at every Guyanese home. This publication took a taste of DeSouza’s coconut cassareep and almost took it for sweet syrup. It was tasty, rich, exotic and dark, just the way Guyanese love their cassareep and their pepperpot.

When asked why he decided to take the risk of producing a household Guyanese sauce, widely known to be made from cassava and knowing that traditional Guyanese may fear switching up at the last minute, DeSouza’s response was filled with optimism and confidence. “Let me tell you, , once you use this coconut cassareep one time, you would never go back, it is an organic product, coconut water is the main ingredient and that is concocted and processed with pepper and other natural herbs to give it this great flavour. I had the inspiration to do this product and the inspiration moved into a vision and any vision I have, must be materialised,” the coconut casareep producer said.

He was also part of an agro-processing training, where he learnt that the cassava cassareep, which is made from the bitter cassava, has cyanide present, and if consumed in large quantity, can be detrimental to one’s health.

Since he launched the product, the response has been overwhelming. In fact, he said the demand is more than he can handle and had to employ persons to take off the market on his hands. His product is also available on supermarkets in Linden. “People love it, the response is crazy, it is fantastic, it is encouraging. The demand is very great and the coconut cassareep is my focus for the holiday. I am not able to focus on the international market just yet, because the local market is overwhelming and the international market needs it in large quantity, but I am taking it one step at a time,” DeSouza said.

He explained that one of the challenges in processing the product is that it takes about five gallons of coconut water to make only two and a half pints of cassareep. It is for this reason that the coconut farmer is calling for the establishment of a coconut plantation in Linden, on the Mabura road, so that himself along with other coconut producers can source their coconuts right in Linden.

It is not his desire to kill the cassava cassareep business and has even commenced training with Indigenous agro-processors in Tumatumari and the response from the women there, he described as positive as they too agreed, that the coconut cassareep is very tasty.
DeSouza is urging other coconut farmers to not look at the risk but at the rewards and just take the leap to expand their product line, not only with casereep or wine, but with the plethora of other products that can be made from coconut. “There is more to coconut, than coconut oil,” he said. DeSouza’s coconut cassareep is available at the James and Sons Supermarket at Mackenzie, Linden or at his factory in Block 22, Wismar.