Pineapple Farm

In November of 2013, hard-working Sierra Leoneans planted the first pineapple suckers in the village of Bauya in Sierra Leone, as part of a new Just Hope venture there to create economic opportunity for the community.

To ensure that these plants made it through an 18-month growing season, dedicated Sierra Leonean workers were diligent caretakers of a venture that has been an education in farming, and one that has represented a great deal of hope for all involved. We honor their commitment, especially given the Ebola epidemic of this very difficult past year.

In late summer of 2015, harvest was underway. We weren’t ultimately able to complete our original plan of a single harvest and sale to a juice processor, but we adjusted, and have been selling the fruit in local fresh markets. The workers carefully harvest the number of plants we expect to be able to sell as they reach the correct stage of ripeness.

Seeing this venture through — from planting the suckers to managing a profitable harvest — is a powerful experience for the workers in Sierra Leone. Seeing the “fruit of their labor” going to market demonstrates that markets for large quantities exist and are accessible, opening their eyes to significant opportunities for their future.

Read more about this pineapple farm project…

Most Recent Updates

August
26
2016

Facing Farming Challenges

Together, Pastor Sullay and the Ebola widows in his congregation diligently mulched, weeded and watered...but things haven't gone as well as we'd hoped. See how they are coping with the challenges...
November
18
2015

Pineapple Project Wraps Up, New Businesses Launch

With the culmination of a three-year pineapple farm project, we are excited to see what our friends in Bauya will do now. While our original goal of selling five acres of pineapples (about 90,000 fruits) was derailed by the nation’s year-long Ebola epidemic, dozens of local workers acquired valuable job skills while they were earning an income, but most importantly, they were inspired and enabled to envision possibilities for themselves. Former long-time employee Ibrahim Siaka has planted his own pineapple farm, using the discarded pineapple crowns and the knowledge he gained from working on the Just Hope pineapple farm to start a business for himself. Others, encouraged by earning a steady income, are entering into other ventures, such as goat farming. Our boots on the ground in Bauya, Sullay Turay and Joe Lassayo, have shifted from crew management to business mentoring, and we are excited to report that Sullay and Joe have purchased and delivered 17 goats (by motorbike!) to former employees. Follow these entrepreneurs as they start new businesses on our Business Building project page.
November
6
2015

Sierra Leone Officially Ebola Free!

As of November 6, 2015, Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola free! Having gone 42 days without a single new case of the disease, the country has finally achieved Ebola-free status. We thank God for an end to this devastating year, and stand with our friends as they work hard to rebuild their economy.
October
19
2015

Pineapple Harvest Comes to a Close

Just prior to our arrival in Bauya last month on September 15, our third load of fresh pineapple was delivered and sold in the Freetown area. Upon our arrival to the site and an inspection of the farm, we made the difficult decision to cease harvesting, due to fruit spoilage. Our harvest window came and went very quickly for several reasons: all plants had been forced to ripen at the same time in preparation for a juicing harvest that was thwarted by the shutdown of the juicing processor; heavy rains made for a slow fresh market sellout; and government law does not allow Sunday markets. Some local “will call” markets absorbed many of the fruits, as did some of the people in the village. A small number of pineapples continue to ripen, but the quantity does not justify the cost of fuel or transportation to market. Sullay reports many are being given to school children, and some are being taken as gifts to people in the new community health office that opened in Bauya last month. However, after the many struggles we faced with Ebola, new boots on the ground, and often limited access to information of plant status, it is heartening that many of our employees still want to be pineapple farmers. They have learned so much about the process of planting, maintaining, forcing and sales, that many are now clearing land for their own pineapple farms. We will provide them with the suckers from our crop to help them get started. On our recent trip, we listened to security team members discuss business ideas they feel empowered to pursue now that their services are no longer needed as a Just Hope employee. At the end of September, Just Hope provided a severance package and other benefits to assist them in getting their businesses started. Joe and Sullay will remain Just Hope employees as they monitor, evaluate and support our past workers as they embark on developing their new careers. After three long, bittersweet days in Bauya, Ben and Phillip left the community in the hands of locals.
October
19
2015

Nearing End of Ebola-Free Countdown

With no new cases of Ebola in the last month, Sierra Leone is nearing the end of the countdown to 42 days with zero Ebola cases, at which point the country will achieve Ebola-free status. During our recent visit, it was impressive to see the entire country working hard to reach this goal!