A tomato variety evaluation hosted on the farm of Ms. Patricia Morris in Belle Isle has demonstrated promising results for local agricultural production in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Conducted as part of a trial evaluating varieties from the World Vegetable Center, the crops exceeded performance expectations despite facing intense tropical conditions and heavy rainfall.
Harvested yields drew an immediate, enthusiastic response from regional commercial buyers. Marketers in Kingston reported high demand that rapidly outpaced available supply, driven by the fruit’s excellent coloration and cleanliness.
In addition to strong market reception, field observations revealed that the evaluated open-pollinated varieties performed comparably to, or even outperformed, hybrid varieties. Based on these positive outcomes, plans are underway to begin seed multiplication once final data analysis is concluded.
Evaluations based on joint farmer assessments and market preference identified several standout varieties. Ranked in descending order of performance, the top cultivars include:
- AVTO 2150
- AVTO 2173
- AVTO 2170
- Ansa hybrid (from CARDI)
- AVTO 2214
- AVTO 1915
- AVTO 2151
- AVTO 2172
The trial’s success has earned official recognition at the highest administrative levels. Both the Honorable Minister and the Permanent Secretary expressed strong satisfaction with the results achieved at the Belle Isle holding, mirroring widespread appreciation across the Ministry of Agriculture.
