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Latest News International News North & East Environment Social Love Horse Racing World Champs Commonwealth Games FIFA World Cup 2022 Entertainment Art & Culture Tuesday Style Food Awards JOL Takes Style Out Design Week JA Black Friday Relationships Classifieds Motor Vehicles Place an Ad Jobs & Careers Study Centre Jnr Study Centre Advertorial Supplements Latest News International News North & East Environment Social Love Horse Racing World Champs Commonwealth Games FIFA World Cup 2022 Entertainment Art & Culture Tuesday Style Food Awards JOL Takes Style Out Design Week JA Black Friday Relationships Classifieds Motor Vehicles Place an Ad Jobs & Careers Study Centre Jnr Study Centre Advertorial Supplements International News Food Awards Entertainment World Champs Career & Education Environment Advertorial Supplements Classifieds Design Week JP Farms General Manager Mario Figueroa (left) and Hewitt Bryan, special project support officer, JP Farms, work together to replant uprooted banana trees following Hurricane Beryl. Latest News, News November 12, 2025 JP Farms reports wipeout of banana and plantain fields ST MARY, Jamaica —JP Farms has reported significant damage to its St Mary farms following the powerful winds associated with the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The Pan Jamaica Group subsidiary, in a media statement on Wednesday, said its initial assessments reveal that the powerful Category 5 storm with wind speeds up to 185 mph inflicted comprehensive damage, resulting in an estimated close to 100 per cent loss across banana and plantain farms. This marks the second consecutive year that the 90-year-old farming operation has been impacted by a major weather system. The company said though St Mary ultimately escaped a direct hit from the hurricane, the prolonged high winds from the outer bands of the system flattened crops that were still in recovery following the impact of Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Pan Jamaica Group has since confirmed its immediate plan to inject the necessary capital for the recovery of the farms. This commitment follows a $250 million investment made by the Group in 2024 to restart production and return the business to profitability after Hurricane Beryl. “Pan Jamaica’s investment in JP Farms is driven by a long-term commitment to Jamaica’s agricultural industry and the parish of St Mary,” affirmed Jeffrey Hall, vice chairman and CEO of Pan Jamaica Group. “The social return of ensuring the stability and livelihood for over 200 families in the parish while providing Jamaicans with locally grown fresh produce, for us, helps to justify the inherent challenges that come with operating in the agricultural sector in Jamaica.” JP Farms has also committed to maintaining employment and benefits for its team members during the low production recovery period. “We did find somewhat of a silver lining,” shared Mario Figueroa, general manager of JP Farms. “An experimental plot of a more wind-resistant banana plant variety that we were testing in partnership with the Bodles Agriculture Research Station sustained noticeably less structural damage than the rest of the banana farm. While still affected, this confirms that we are on the right track toward adopting more robust varieties.” Tags: Hurricane Melissa JP Farms {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} 0 Comments · Make a comment ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER Latest News JFF launches hurricane relief effort November 12, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has kicked off its Hurricane Melissa Relief Response by delivering care packages and essentia... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Reputed Sunrise Crescent Gang boss charged with kidnapping, robbery November 12, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica -- The reputed leader of the ‘100 Sunrise Crescent Gang’ has been charged with multiple offences by the Constant Spring Police in re... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News FOREX: $161.22 to one US dollar November 12, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Wednesday, November 12, ended trading at $161.22, up 40 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Mini Miss St Elizabeth launches hurricane relief campaign for children November 12, 2025 Reigning Mini Miss St Elizabeth Heritage Queen Alexia Jappa is leading the charge to bring relief and smiles to young victims of Hurricane Melissa, wh... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, Regional Guyana’s oil production hits 900,000 barrels per day November 12, 2025 GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — ExxonMobil Guyana Limited on Wednesday announced that the daily production in the Stabroek Block has increased to 900,000 b... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Hurricane Melissa deals $40-b blow to mining sector November 12, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica - The mining sector, a critical earner of foreign exchange, was not spared the fury of Hurricane Melissa, sustaining preliminary est... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News More health centres opened in St Elizabeth post Melissa November 12, 2025 ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — The Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) is advising the public that more health centres have been opened in St Elizabeth... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} HOUSE RULES We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. 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