The training program, which was funded by the Republic of China, Taiwan, was facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture Agroprocessing Unit under the project Empowering Women and Youth to Generate Income through Agroprocessing and Value Addition of Locally Grown Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables Project”.

Food processors will now be able to standardize and used their knowledge to upgrade their product to another level. This training seeks to address several issues in Plan Belize such as

• reducing imports

• expanding exports

• reducing food losses

• strengthen food security.

• promoting health living

• linking agriculture with tourism

• capacity building for women and youth to become positive contributors to the development of the economy.

The twenty-seven participants who received the training are from across the country mainly women and youths. The group received capacity building in product development and value addition in the safe processing of salsa casera, pickled jalapeno, pineapple preserve, and pineapple jam.

The objective of the training was to Improve the productive and technical skills of youth and women for improved livelihood in the agro-productive sector. As well support the increase of locally produced commodities, supply growing national demand for processed food and beverages and to mitigate against increased cost of imported value-added products and replace and substitute imports, expand exports, and strengthen the linkages between agriculture and the tourism sector.

Collaborators for this training was the Ministry of Agriculture Agro-processing Unit, Ministry of Health Public Health Department, Belize Marketing Development Cooperation, Belize Bureau of Standards.