With the increased sales of liquid chlorophyll and heightened community awareness about the nutritional and medicinal benefits, U. S. Virgin Islands (USVI) producers and sellers are increasing dialogue with the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service (UVICES) to begin a collaborative effort towards increasing consistency in consumer education to encourage more informed customer decisions.
Growing up on St. Thomas, Mass producer Jah Speedy, of Royal Physicians International, learned the art and science of chlorophyll preparation locally, from various local elders, healers, and farmers including Ras Bobby, Ras Nashamba-I and Wade who are a few of the persons who he says motivated and inspired him to go forward.
[AUDIO: Hear directly from him, how liquid chlorophyll mass producer Jah Speedy got his start]
With retailers on different parts of the island, it is convenient for consumers to purchase chlorophyll from retailers island-wide. Jah Speedy wholesales and delivers gallons of chlorophyll to these locations, while another individual producer and retailer, Brother Alphonse Wade III of Organic West Farm, sells out of his vehicle on the waterfront on specific nights.
[PHOTOS: From one of the Organic West Farm Chlorophyll Workshops facilitated by Brother Wade – All Photos by DaraMonifah Cooper]
There is also Ras Herman, who sells to his co-workers and friends, and Ras Nashamba-I of the Bordeaux Farm, who sells on market days and delivers. Sister Diann and Brother Malak of Love Livin sell about two gallons of Jah Speedy’s chlorophyll weekly at their locations.
Initially as part of a small organization that was vending at the Annual Bordeaux Fair, Jah Speedy was introduced to liquid chlorophyll from a presenter named Malika and Ras Nashamba-I who demonstrated at the event.
“She told me how to make it and all the different ingredients that it contains. I went home and tried it,” he said. He just kept doing it until he started getting feedback from those who tasted it. “It’s roughly close to 17 years that I’m making chlorophyll and now it’s in different stores,” he continued.
While Jah Speedy consistently mass produces and sells wholesale, he said that he has noticed a decrease in demand as a variety of individual retailers create their own varieties, including Ras Herman make and sell about 150 bottles weekly. In addition, selling individual 16.9 oz bottles, he offers a variety of light to strong strengths and flavors based on an intentionally moderated use of herbs.
Even with the encouraged competition and spreading of the drink varieties, Jah Speedy’s ‘liquid sunshine’ has a unique taste and quality acclaimed highly throughout the island. Combined with his humble nature and dependable customer service practices, his product, soon to be patented, has made a name for itself.
[VIDEO: Chlorophyll being made in the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service kitchen by Ras Speedy. Video by: DaraMonifah Cooper]
COST & GENERAL AVAILABILITY
For about $3.00 – 5.00 a bottle, liquid chlorophyll vending locations reported retailing an average of 20 – 30 bottles, and two gallons weekly, at outlets such as the Natural Livity Kulcha Shop & Juice Bar, Love Livin’s Vegan Restaurant, The Fruit Bowl, Essential Health Food Store and soon the N’Ting but Veggie restaurant.
With a handful of producers and retailers, there are still others, who sell at specific locations or during farmers markets, fairs and other cultural events. Consumers can usually find the drink sold at the St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair, the Annual Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Food Fair and bi-weekly Farmers Markets, as well as the Yacht Haven Grande Farmers Market.
CONSUMER EDUCATION & INFORMATION
Jahweh David drinks chlorophyll at sunset, “because of its healing properties,” on John Brewers Beach. Photo by: DaraMonifah Cooper
Consumers are generally interested in learning the cost and availability, educational opportunities, known benefits and potential concerns. What many seemed to ask about less, are the historical origin and ingredients, which motivated the research and community outreach coined as the #VIChlorophyllConvo.
Chlorophyll made in the Virgin Islands as sold at the Natural Livity Kulcha Shop and Juice Bar with a UVICES book on Tropical Fruit Nutrition. Photo by: DaraMonifah Cooper
Just as there is an ever-increasing demand for knowledge in alternative methods of prevention and healing globally, in the USVI, the need is immediate because of the increase of community-organized International Healers Symposium, demonstrations, and chlorophyll workshops offered by local producers.
The University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service office, known for its ongoing educational programs, publications and other related events, fully supports the research.
“This is a very welcome collaboration between our producers, the Cooperative Extension Service, and our Agriculture and Food Fair Committee. Not only does this joint effort offer a new and meaningful feature to our fair, but it addresses a current and genuine need of our community,” said Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., UVICES St. Thomas – St. John Assistant Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Depending on the ingredients used and instructions followed, the benefits of liquid chlorophyll could positively affect many suffering from specific ailments or assist those seeking inexpensive preventative methods. Responding to the needs of the community, the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, led by Extension Agent Toni Thomas, conducts research and offer space for community dialogue, with the intention of providing research-based information that producers can use to educate sellers and consumers of their chlorophyll products.
[AUDIO: University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service Natural Resources Extension Agent Toni Thomas shares about what lead to the making of her book, Traditional Medicinal Plants of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.]
According to Thomas, “Chlorophyll is a pigment that enables plants to capture the energy from the sun during the process of photosynthesis. People use some plants to make chlorophyll tinctures, mouth washes, supplements, beauty preparations, health drinks and other products.”
Book Cover of Traditional Medicinal Plants of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John by Toni Thomas, UVI Cooperative Extension Service Agent
Poisonous and Injurious Plants of the U.S. Virgin Islands book cover from the University of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Research Service
Book Covers of Poisonous and Injurious Plants of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Traditional Medicinal Plants of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John by Toni Thomas, UVI Cooperative Extension Service Agent Photos by: DaraMonifah Cooper
Throughout the year, residents are offered several educational opportunities to learn about the potential ingredients, benefits and processes of making liquid chlorophyll. Some of the more popular activities include the Annual Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Food Fair as well as special occasions of the Bordeaux Farmers Market including the International Healers Symposium. On occasion, Brother Wade of the Organic West Farm, holds a chlorophyll demonstration and workshop at the Frenchtown Community Center. The last workshop of that kind was held on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 6:00 pm.
Through the assistance of the UVICES, Jah Speedy contacted Dr. Henry for assistance with the nutritional analysis part of his product patenting. Using websites she suggested including the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference website and Nutritionvalue.org, to obtain the nutritional information on guinea grass as well as the total list of ingredients and serving size, his product’s nutrition label will soon be sent for production.
Having previously worked at the UVICES, Dr. Henry knew that Thomas would be able to get in touch with co-workers including Dr. Petersen, Stafford Crossman or others in the area of agriculture to obtain up-to-date information on guinea grass research and Jah Speedy’s other ingredients, in terms of their nutritional value.
“The key to recipe nutritional analysis is having the exact measurements of all the items and making sure you use the correct serving size,” said Dr. Henry.
KNOWN BENEFITS and POTENTIAL CONCERNS
[INFOGRAPHIC: V.I. Liquid Chlorophyll’s Ingredients, Preparation, Benefits and Concerns]
While consumers are becoming increasingly interested in the taste and health benefits, some are learning the hard way that it is vitally important to use moderation and request knowledge of the ingredients they are drinking.
Addelita Cancryn Junior High School monitor Rudel Grant with Moringa Tree Photo creadit: DaraMonifah cooper
Addelita Cancryn Junior High School Monitor and Virgin Islands Gardening Club Facebook Page Manager, Rudel Grant shared one of his experiences with drinking liquid medicinal herbs without considering the potential adverse effects that can result from failure to learning about unsafe herbs and allopathic medication combinations.
“I took the pill and then chased it with some moringa and my pressure went entirely too low,” he said. He realized that his blood pressure had dropped too low from using the ‘moringa water’ as a drink to swallow his pressure pills. “I was literally passing out on my feet,” he added.
A local professional that understands and has training in use of both allopathic and naturopathic medicine, Dr. Wendy Coram Vialet, a Naturopathic Doctor at Corvia Natural Healthcare Services, shares how she came into studying naturopathy and medicinal plants.
Dr. Wendy in office at Corvia Natural Healthcare Services Photo by: DaraMonifah Cooper
[AUDIO: An introduction to Dr. Wendy V. Coram Vialet and how she became interested in the field of Naturopathy]
[VIDEO: Coram Vialet shares how she uses chlorophyll with patients in her practice and states that her only concern with the local production of chlorophyll is quality control.]
“Currently, there is no legislation on the books that address the issues of quality control among the production of supplements here in the VI and it is one of the things that we have to address,” said Dr. Coram Vialet.
HISTORY
Local chlorophyll production has been available from at least as early as 1975, when Crucian NswNeb KaRa KherishetaPaHeru and a few others began using guinea grass chlorophyll on St. Croix. He explained that in his experience with starting to use it, it was sold to help people with various illnesses on both St. Croix and St. Thomas.
University of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center’s Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina shares cultural heritage foundations of liquid chlorophyll production, benefits, tips, and cautions. Dr. Kahina also has experience with Naturopathic/Homeopathic Medicine, which she adds to the conversation.
[VIDEO: Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina shares cultural heritage foundations of liquid chlorophyll production, benefits, tips and cautions in the Virgin Islands.]
The Virgin Islands Chlorophyll Conversation continues online via social media using multiple platforms to share information including youtube, pinterest, linkedin, facebook and soundcloud as well as advertising on Instagram and through twitter. For more information about chlorophyll, the community is invited to search #VIChlorophyllConvo to share your knowledge or experiences. Consumers and general members of the public are also encouraged to attend workshops where they can learn various methods of liquid chlorophyll production from Jah Speedy, Brother Wade of the Organic West Farm or others who continue to keep Virgin Islands culture alive through sharing their livelihood.
Search and post online using the hashtag #VIChlorophyllConvo in order to learn or share your related experiences and knowledge of the subject. Visit the media shared on the following various platforms, and for more information email info@daramonifah.com.
#FACEBOOK GROUP –https://www.facebook.com/groups/404763122981532/
#YOUTUBE – https://www.youtube.com/playlist…
#SOUNDCLOUD – https://soundcloud.com/daramonifahdotcom/sets/vichlorophyllconvo
#PINTEREST – https://www.pinterest.com/daramonifah/vichlorophyllconvo/
