Surf and turf spells food safety in Belize

Food safety, vertical integration and value-added agriculture are terms we associate with developed nations; however the aquaculture and meat industries in Belize show us they are high priorities here, too.

Day 3 changed the pace and focus of the trip, as we leave behind the Belizean cultural attractions and travel east to the outskirts of Belmopan to visit the Running W Brand processing facility. Providing 70 per cent of all of the processed beef and pork products consumed in Belize, the biggest customers of the Running W Brand processing facility are hotels and restaurants. Production is focused on the customer – their products are delivered on demand, and their marketing mottos are “Just ask for it” and “Quality Naturally.” 

Adib Bejos, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) coordinator for Running W, was enthusiastic to share the company’s mission statement, which is “to ensure that the quality and safety of the product are both superior to both competitors locally and regionally.” Running W is expanding its facility to increase storage capacity. Upon completion it will be able to apply for official HACCAP certification from the Belizean Animal Health Authority.

To comply with HACCP regulations, Running W is careful to select its suppliers. All of the animals that do not come from the Tiger Run Farms Ltd, owned by Running W, are sourced from community projects. Paying more for the animals allows Running W to command a higher quality product, stipulating what the animals have to be fed, and also the breeds they require. It was surprising to see the similarities in breeding, processing and the focus on food quality and safety shared between Belize and Canada.

Our journey continued in search of Aquamar Farms and we headed three hours south on the Hummingbird Hghway, to Independence. The scenery changes along the way as the mountains grow taller and the lush green jungle thickens. Bountiful citrus groves line the highway; their cultured uniform rows of trees provide a sharp contrast against the vast jungle that lies beyond. The importance and sheer volume of production is reflected by the number of processing plants we pass along the way. Trucks can be seen moving brimming loads directly from the field to the plants.

It is not long before the horizon flattens into a vast Sahara like landscape. The vegetation is sporadic, providing cover for only a few of the many predators we had met at Belize zoo only days before. The only sign of agricultural developments here are pastures, created as the land is cleared for grazing Brahma cattle.

Aquamar Farms is located three miles outside Independence. This vertically integrated shrimp farm consumes 1,000 acres of the land beside the coast. The farm is split into five main areas -- the hatchery, the processing facility and three farming areas that vary in intensity. The less intensive ponds vary in size between nine and 19 acres, and are home to approximately 800,000 shrimp. Due to the intensity of the operation they have to be closely monitored for nitrate and phosphate levels and artificially oxygenated. On average it takes four months from a post-larval shrimp entering the pond to grow to harvesting size, depending on market demand. The farm is currently expanding its operation with a $5-million investment in 16 new intensive ponds.

Food safety is also of great concern to Aquamar, and as we crossed the guarded gate way we can see the company takes this very seriously. Shrimp in the early stages are sensitive to both light, heat and oxygen levels. As they grow and mature the shrimp with the highest growth rates are selected to enter the brood stock program. A single brood shrimp is worth US$45, definitely not to be eaten! 

As the day winds down I am surprised by the similarities that exist in food production and processing between Canada and Belize. Reflecting on the day there is one final thing we have to do, say good night to Sam the sand lizard who seems to have taken up residence in our room. We are obviously not the only ones we appreciate the air conditioning!

 

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