Growing Saint Lucia’s Cocoa Industry Through Tourism and Agriculture

(Castries, Saint Lucia – Monday 19th October 2026) — For nearly two decades, the Island Growers’ programme at Hotel Chocolat Saint Lucia has sought to help revive the island’s cocoa industry. Launched in 2008, the initiative provides Saint Lucian farmers with subsidised seedlings, training and farm visitation services, alongside a guaranteed market, with the hotel buying their harvested cocoa.

Fifty-five farmers are currently enrolled in the programme. On Tuesday, 6th October, they came together at the Soufrière hotel for an annual general meeting and awards ceremony.

Managing Director of Hotel Chocolat, Kevin Cooper, noted that a major part of the hotel’s sustainability ethos is the community. “We work closely with them [farmers] through training and making sure that they have all the right tools to be able to provide the finest chocolate Saint Lucia has. Today was very significant for our farmers to interact with one another, meet for the first time all as a group. It’s key for our operation, it’s key for us to give them updates: where we’re at, what we’re doing, what’s next coming. It’s very key. And also, to celebrate a great year that we’ve had, but also a great opportunity for us to celebrate and present awards; seven awards that we had here, from a youth award, women award to the most high-quality cocoa, to the biggest volumes, really celebrating with them as a group, and that’s what key.”

The crop plays an important role in the hotel’s offerings, from the products it creates to the experiences it provides guests. Cooper said, “Cocoa is used throughout the whole operation. We have cocktails in our restaurant; we have the Project Chocolat experience, where guests can come and make their own chocolate bar and learn about from tree to plant to actually making it. We also have stores throughout the United States and United Kingdom, whereby once it’s dried, it’s shipped. But there’s so much that stays here in Saint Lucia for this amazing experience that we have.”

A veteran farmer, Patricia Lamontagne started planting cocoa in 2006 and joined the hotel’s programme two years later. The partnership has exceeded her expectations. “Growing cocoa has been very beneficial to my family. Back in the day we had banana which was green gold but today I can say that cocoa is the brown gold. It has become part of us! Growing cocoa, planting cocoa, selling cocoa has moved my family further when it comes to agriculture. With the cocoa being sold to farmers at EC$2 per plant, it has been very good. I was able to extend on my farm and this has pushed me very much in increasing my produce.”

Merlison Monchery is one of the newer farmers in the programme. As a young farmer, he says the support has been invaluable. “About a little over two years ago, I took over what was a banana farm. There were a few cocoa trees on the estate that I had to reorganise, prune, spray for fertilisers, develop, and I’m now planting my own to try to develop a cocoa estate.

“I do appreciate the programme and support, especially the price of the plants and the availability, which is quite important to developing that estate. I find the support is quite good, and the incentives that they have in place, and the training programmes.

“It’s actually very important that these plants are available, especially the cost and the amount that you can get. Because it costs a lot of money and time to produce your own plants, so you getting good, healthy seedlings, well-nursed, to start your own estate is very important,” he said.

The Island Growers’ programme is a shining example of what can be achieved when tourism and agriculture work together, with both parties looking forward to its continued growth.