Beautiful Bequia
We were most excited to participate in the 2019 Fancy Food Show at the Javits center in NYC this past June; our first food show experience in the US. Nothing like starting out with a bang—huge event with huge crowds. For a first time at bat it was a great experience for us. We learned much about what aspects of our brand people were most drawn to.
Everybody loved our packaging, and the serious lovers/knowers of salt were blown away by the flavor of both our Truly Wild Original salt as well as our blends. One of several takeaways was the need to produce gift boxes for selling sets, which we have since done.
The booth was also stunning; our background as professional food photographers and directors was on display in the form of mural size imagery and a beautiful video Jerry shot to introduce folks to this beautiful island where our salt is made. Much more of that in the works.
Speaking of this beautiful island, perhaps the biggest takeaway was the need for a map next time around, as very few people had even heard of Bequia, let alone had any idea where it is!
So, by way of launching this blog, let me introduce you to the island of Bequia. Part of the island chain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, south of Barbados and St. Lucia, Bequia is the second-largest island, yet still only 7 square miles. Bequia means "island of the clouds" in the ancient Arawak.
Long a favorite of ‘Yachties’ due to the large enclosed bays here so perfect for mooring, most who are familiar with, and big fans of Bequia, are from the international sailing community. One is engulfed by a rare sense of soulfulness within the community and surrounded by lush natural beauty. Expats from all over the world have been drawn to this, yet the island is relatively undeveloped with a year round population of 5,000 give or take. Between the snowbirds and the yachties, that number swells in high season beginning in early December lasting into April when the island is essentially a nonstop party scene with great music, beautiful beaches and great food.
Low season, which we’ve just experienced, is deliciously peaceful with many restaurants and hotels closed. Island life looms large. With no tourism to fuel the local economy, the pace of things definitely slows and those of us lucky enough to be here year round adapt accordingly. Each day unfolds with the unexpected gifts of nature and the local cast of characters melding to create a rich sense of humanity, presence, and a profound experience of the joyful.
We are so very grateful for this paradisaical island to be the home of Grenadine Sea Salt. We have the added benefit of being part of Firefly Plantation, a boutique hotel on 20 acres of beautiful views, featuring a golf course and lush vegetation. Stay tuned as we continue to share more scenes of our experiences here, not the least of which is our restoration of an old sugar mill as our base of operations.