Chocolates and adventure in Jamaica
Hellen Akiror French and Averell French, Founders of Mount Pleasant Farm Chocolatiers / Photography by Cesar Bualto
Hellen Akiror French and Averell French, founders of Mount Pleasant Farm Chocolatiers, are partners in life and in business.
They’ve created Jamaica’s first bean-to-bar chocolate company.
We asked them: “What sets your chocolates apart from competitors?”
They replied: “We take the product from the farm to the table, controlling all aspects of the process to guarantee quality and sustainability. In our cocoa farms we have Criollo and Trinitario trees, from which we create a unique blend. The cool mountains give our products a fruity, mild, non-acidic taste that’s creamier than most 70% dark chocolate bars.
Also, our beans have grown in the Blue Mountains on the family farm for over a hundred years.”
They’ve also won several awards, among them the Great Taste Awards gold star, by The Guild of Fine Food, for their coffee and dark chocolate plain bars, and the Sir Arthur Social Entrepreneur Award.
I’m thinking we follow Hellen Akiror French and Averell French’s journey over the coming years as their brand, Mount Pleasant Farm Chocolatiers, is being built.
They officially launched in 2013, read their story in Pitch Cool Jamaica.
Lisa and Chris Binns, Co-founders of Stush in the Bush / Photography by Stephanie Gengotti
Since 2014, co-founders of Stush in the Bush, Lisa and Chris Binns, have been cultivating a creative culinary experience rooted in ital – the natural, plant-based diet of the Rastafari Livity – up in the hills of St Ann, Jamaica, in the village of Free Town.
Read their story in Pitch Cool Jamaica.
Lisa and Chris Binns have a regenerative ital garden, lush with coconut trees, pineapples, avocado, citrus trees, and herbs. Lisa says, “It’s dining, but it is also walking in the garden with Chris. It’s conversations. It’s food inspiration.”
They also offer Pilates and yoga classes, with views across the flora, and there is a guest cabin for one person.
I’m thinking this place would be great to start The Pitch Fanzine’s yearly creative recharge adventures, with those in the industry looking to inspire our future creative talent.
You would spend some time with the locals, eating healthy, and sharing what you do in the advertising creative industry with children, at primary and secondary schools, in the community.
Who’s up for an adventure in Jamaica?
Let’s create change together.
Best wishes,
Sherry Collins (her / us)
Jamaican Freedom Fighter
Fighting for the creative freedom of the Jamaican peopledem.™
