The first coconut factory erected on the Essequibo Coast has begun operating, and has started to export products to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. It is under the ownership of Roopan Ramotar and is located at Land of Plenty.
Initially, the factory supplied between 12 and 24 bottles of the health beverage to supermarkets and shops on the Essequibo Coast; but just a few weeks into operation, demand had climbed exponentially. Supermarkets and shops are now asking for the product to line their shelves with as much as two to four cases (24 bottles per case) of Rooster Fresh Pomeroon Coconut Water needed per week. The beverage comes in two-litre and 500ml bottles. The two-litre bottle of the refreshing beverage is retailed at $1000 per bottle, while the 500ml bottle retails at $300 per bottle.
Because of the demand the producers are looking at providing a smaller bottle to reach out to consumers at all ends of the scale and to compete more directly with established beverage producers and distributors here.
According to feedback, the Rooster Fresh Pomeroon Coconut Water is in quality and taste superior to its competition on the Essequibo Coast.
Practically all of the 6,500 litres produced for local consumption is sold on the Essequibo Coast, with the majority being sold in the township of Anna Regina.
As the name suggests, the coconut is harvested in the Pomeroon. From there it is transported to Land of Plenty, where it is processed. The processing begins with the coconuts being washed and dried, before being taken into a separate room where they are cut and the water loaded into aluminium cans. The cans are then transported into another room, where they are loaded into large, cool aluminium filler; and from there, the water is poured into two-litre and 500ml bottles, which are then taken for storage in 12-foot storage containers.
The process is simple, but because of the sheer volume of coconuts, the operation is manned by 15 staffers who each have clear lines of duty. At Ramotar’s coconut farm in the Pomeroon, where 200 acres of coconut are harvested and 300 acres are under cultivation, another 15 persons are employed. The factory has also created indirect employment for the boat operators and truck drivers who transport the commodity from the farm to the factory.
