Golden Krust Shows Up For Jamaica With Major Support For Farmers After Hurricane Melissa

Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurants is proving once again that community and culture are at the heart of its business. The Black-owned, family-run Jamaican food company with more than 100 locations across the United States has launched a 3 million Jamaican dollar agricultural recovery initiative to support small farmers in Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa, AfroTech reports.

The first phase of the initiative is being rolled out in partnership with the American Friends of Jamaica. The effort is providing direct assistance to 10 farmers across Saint Elizabeth, Clarendon, Saint Catherine, Saint Mary, and Manchester. Each farmer received J$300,000 in seedlings, farming equipment, fertilizer, and essential supplies to help them replant and restart production after widespread crop losses, flooding, and damage to farm infrastructure caused by the storm.

Golden Krust’s leadership team traveled to Jamaica as part of the initiative’s launch, distributing supplies, assessing damage, and meeting directly with farmers who grow the ingredients used in Golden Krust products across North America. Those ingredients include scotch bonnet peppers, escallion, thyme, and other seasonings that define the brand’s signature flavors.

“Hurricane Melissa had a severe impact on farmers across Jamaica, and we recognize how difficult it has been for many to restart after such a significant loss,” Golden Krust Chairman and CEO Jacqueline Hawthorne-Robinson said in the release. She described the effort as the first step in a longer-term rehabilitation plan. “These farmers are part of our extended Golden Krust family. It was their labour and commitment that helped shape the Jamaican flavours we’re known for,” Hawthorne-Robinson added. “This effort is about helping families rebuild, protecting livelihoods, and strengthening the agricultural communities that are essential to Jamaica’s future.”

For farmers like Luke Lee, director of Clarendon-based Gen Paradise Company Limited, the support came at a critical moment. Hurricane Melissa caused extensive flooding and structural damage to his farm and greenhouses, forcing him to pause production. 

“This land means a whole lot to us, and we’ve invested a lot of time and energy into its growth,” Lee said. “The support from Golden Krust is immeasurable. Them being here in person has really lifted our spirits. We know we have a partner who is not only just talk, but who takes action, and that is where the rubber meets the road.” Lee also shared that the materials provided will help shorten recovery time and allow farmers to resume planting much sooner.

Golden Krust executives emphasized that the recovery work is deeply connected to the company’s sourcing model. Steven Clarke, vice president of marketing, explained that Jamaican-grown ingredients are foundational to the brand’s identity and consistency. “Every Golden Krust patty carries a piece of Jamaica within it,” Clarke said. “For nearly three decades, our scotch bonnet peppers and thyme have come directly from farms like the ones we visited across the island this week.” Clarke added that supporting farmers after the storm is essential to protecting the integrity of the company’s supply chain.

The agricultural recovery initiative is just one part of Golden Krust’s broader Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. The company has organized fundraising and donation drives across its U.S. restaurant network and collaborated with organizations including the N.C.B. Foundation, Food For The Poor, Global Empowerment Mission, the Sanmerna Foundation, Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, JetBlue, and Dennis Shipping. Together, these partnerships have helped distribute food, household items, and other aid to affected communities. Golden Krust also partnered with U.S.-based distributor Imperial Dade to deliver more than J$300,000 worth of medical supplies to Jamaica’s Ministry of Health.

Christopher Hylton, Golden Krust’s director of quality control, said visiting the farms made the mission feel even more urgent. “Seeing the damage firsthand was difficult, but witnessing the resilience of these farmers reaffirmed why we needed to show up,” he said. “Farmers are essential to Jamaica’s agricultural backbone. This support goes beyond immediate recovery, it’s an investment in the stability of our food systems and in protecting the heritage of the flavours that make Jamaican cuisine unique.”

Through this initiative, Golden Krust is showing what it looks like when a Black-owned brand reinvests in the people and places that built it, turning cultural pride into real action that uplifts communities and preserves legacy.

Cover photo: Golden Krust Shows Up For Jamaica With Major Support For Farmers After Hurricane Melissa/Photo credit: Golden Krust/Instagram