The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has identified Dominica as having strong potential to develop a high-quality specialty cocoa sector. This follows a recent FAO Cocoa Market Analysis Mission carried out across four Eastern Caribbean islands — Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Dominica — between August 6 and 26, 2025. FAO Specialist Gustavo Ferro said Dominica’s rich biodiversity and traditional agroforestry systems give it a natural advantage for producing premium fine-flavour cocoa. However, he noted that improvements in post-harvest infrastructure and farmer incentives are key to tapping into international specialty markets. President of the North East Cocoa Producers Cooperative, Jennifer Pascal, described the mission as inspiring, adding that it renewed enthusiasm among local farmers to strengthen Dominica’s cocoa industry and create sustainable livelihoods. The findings from the mission will contribute to a regional roadmap to boost the competitiveness of the Eastern Caribbean cocoa sector. A subregional dialogue is set for November in Trinidad and Tobago to validate the results and chart the next steps for growth.
