Durrant Pate/Contributor

In a landmark effort to support Jamaican agricultural recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, Ayesha Curry, Back to the Roots, and The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) have announced a historic donation of organic seeds to the island. 

This initiative represents the largest single shipment of organic seeds ever to enter Jamaica and the most significant level of support provided by a private entity for Jamaica’s small farmers post-Melissa. 

Back to the Roots, an American organic gardening company that has evolved from an urban mushroom farm in Oakland, CA into a thriving national brand and pioneering organic gardening company and Ayesha Curry have teamed up to support Jamaica with the largest organic seed donation in island history.

The donation, valued at J$120 million, is being distributed by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to help small farmers rebuild and restore food security across the island. The contribution not only provides immediate relief but also introduces organic seed varieties that were previously inaccessible, paving the way for more sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

This historic effort marks the beginning of a larger conversation about the future of organic farming in Jamaica. The Bodles Agriculture Research Station plans to propagate a portion of the donated seeds using organic methods to establish a local, sustainable source of organic seeds for the future.

How the initiative started

The initiative was sparked by Curry, a long-time friend and partner of Back to the Roots, who connected the brand with the recovery effort. “With so much of my family from and still living in Jamaica, it was important to rally my network to support the island in the wake of such a devastating hurricane. Supporting this recovery isn’t just about providing seeds; it’s about continuing to help communities across Jamaica replant, restore food security and cultivate a more self-sufficient future,” explains Curry.

Officials at the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture, including representatives from the Bodles Agriculture Research Station, are highlighting the transformative nature of the gift, calling it “the largest shipment of organic seeds to ever enter Jamaica.” The donation includes both vegetable and flower seeds, the latter of which are in high demand to support the island’s expanding hotel and cut-flower industries. 

AFJ Board Member Mark Newman says, “This donation will not only help Jamaica’s small farmers replant for the coming seasons, but hopefully also lay the foundation for more self-reliant, organic agriculture for Jamaica for generations to come.” 

For Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, Co-Founders & Co-CEOs of Back to the Roots, “every day, we see the impact one seed can make. When Ayesha connected us with the Hurricane Melissa recovery effort, we were honoured to help support Jamaica’s small farmers rebuild with our organic heirloom seeds. We know that planting seeds yields far more than just food—it’s about hope and a belief in a better tomorrow,” said