AMAZON Caribbean Guyana Limited (AMCAR) is a company registered in Guyana, created by French investors in 1986. It produces Wild Organic Heart of Palm with two factories. The company has 140 employees and more than 500 freelance harvesters and suppliers, and it exports 100% of its products.

AMCAR has been working closely with Amerindian communities for 36 years. AMCAR has been producing top-quality heart of palm from the wild as its main product. Certified Wild Organic since 1997, the Heart of Palm is produced in cans and glass jars, with attractive, market-ready packaging. It is certified for both Europe and the USA. Gluten-free and high in fibre, it is an excellent product for vegans.

The second product AMCAR produces is açaí pulp for export. AMCAR also produces organic and conventional pineapple chunks in glass jars, as well as various fruit juices in bottles.

Chief Executive Officer of Barima Açaí Hearts of Palm, Jean Francois Gerin, told The Pepperpot Magazine that deep within the heart of the Amazonian forest, the first Barima River factory recently celebrated its 30th year of providing a livelihood for people in neighbouring communities.

He added that the company has a second factory in the Berbice River area, providing a total of 200 direct jobs and income for over 500 families, mainly of Amerindian descent, on a permanent basis.

“We are one of the oldest producers of Barima Wild Hearts of Palm, making it a unique company in Guyana that contributes directly to the economy by providing employment for locals,” he said.

Gerin told The Pepperpot Magazine that their social impact is far-reaching. Since 2015, the company has been committed to good trade and working practices as part of its social responsibility, always looking for ways to benefit workers and communities alike.

The CEO reported that, since 1987, every care has been taken to ensure the natural environment is not harmed. The product has been certified organic since 1997, standing as a guarantee that all pickers follow sustainable harvesting practices.

Gerin said the extraction of the palms has minimal environmental impact, as no machines are used for harvesting, and the palms regenerate sufficiently to ensure sustainability.

Originally from France, Gerin stated that he considers himself Guyanese now, having lived in Guyana for 35 years and being married to an Indigenous woman from the North West District (NWD) for 31 years.

Gerin reported that the products are mostly exported to Brazil, France, the US, Lebanon, and other countries, but they are not as widely marketed in Guyana as they should be. However, the products are available at DSL and Massy supermarkets across the country. Gerin is hoping to connect with local consumers through events such as the recently held GuyExpo 2024.

The company has participated in GuyExpo since 1995. Gerin added that all employees are well-trained, with many having been with the company for over 16 years.

The products are certified to meet international high standards for quality and are predominantly exported out of Guyana. The CEO noted that their vision is to produce, in Guyana, value-added food products recognised by international supermarket distributors as secure, healthy, and of premium quality.

“In the meantime, we are limiting the supply chain of our products by monitoring it straight from the nursery to the final customers. Our projects begin by promoting organic agriculture in Guyana through communities and private owners, providing technical assistance, as well as owning our own lands for experimentation,” he said.

Gerin stated that their services focus on providing customers with a range of organic certified exotic vegetables and fruits, such as Barima Açaí Hearts of Palm, berries pulp and juice, as well as organic tropical fruits in glass jars and juices. These are shipped directly to shops and supermarkets locally and abroad, in North America and Europe, with no intermediaries.