1. What has led you to become a chilli farmer?
My love of growing plants, which started when I was a kid in Trinidad. I used to grow plants to sell at a market and at the side of the road for pocket money. Couple that with my love of hot sauce and you’re on to a winner!
2. What are your aspirations for SDCF for the future?
To be able to offer a wider range of flavours of chilli sauces and other products with a Caribbean influence, as well as a wide range of dried and powdered chillies grown on site
3. What gives you the biggest buzz when you’re working?
Seeing the first crop of plants ready to harvest each year is a feeling you can’t beat!
4. What three things have been your main focus this week?
SALSA food hygiene audit, reviewing our seed crop plants and following up from a recent trade show.
5. When is your favourite time of year at the chilli farm?
Early summer, when the plants are really taking off & looking lush.
6. Favourite chilli & why?
Trinidad Pimento – because it has an amazing flavour yet no heat, so you can use it liberally without blowing your family’s heads off!
7. What are you doing today?
Today we have been preparing for a food hygiene audit, lots of processes, paperwork and spreadsheets for me which is a doddle with my engineering background!