GraceKennedy

Visitors to Emancipation Park now have another feature to enjoy, with the addition of five new rose gardens containing eight varieties of roses.  The roses were donated by Agro Grace’s overseas partner, Jackson & Perkins, one of the world’s largest producers of roses. Mr. Earl Samuels O.D., Managing Director of the National Housing Trust, which manages Emancipation Park, accepted the donation in a ceremony on June 22 at the park.

Mr. Garnet Malcolm (right), General Manager of Agro Grace, presents a plaque to Mr. Earl Samuels, O.D. Managing Director of National Housing Trust, to commemorate the handing over of eight rose beds to Emancipation Park.

Among officials attending the ceremony were deputy mayor of Kingston, Councillor Lee Clarke; Anthony Holness, Chief Executive Officer of the Hardware & Lumber Group Lisa Grant, Park Manager, Emancipation Park; and Kevin Marshall, Regional Sales Representative of Jackson & Perkins.

Agro Grace approached the NHT about designing the rose gardens after Kevin Marshall of Jackson and Perkins visited Emancipation Park and expressed his company’s willingness to donate the rose plants.  Agro Grace then enlisted the assistance of Derek Chin, one of its customers and a rose-enthusiast, in establishing the rosebeds.

Mr Derek Chin (right), customer of AgroGrace points to the special features of the St. Patrick rose, developed by Jackson & Perkins, one of the world's largest producers of roses.  Mr. Chin, an AgroGrace customer who specializes in growing roses and greatly assisted in the project, led a tour of the rose beds following the handing over ceremony.

Agro Grace has committed to providing inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides on an ongoing basis.  In July, the company will conduct a training session for the park’s team in such areas as pest and disease identification and management, plant nutrition, spraying techniques, and pruning of roses.

Olive Downer Walsh, Retail and Marketing Manager for Agro Grace,  receives the details of the Pope John Paul II Rose created by Jackson and Perkins. Making the presentation is Kevin Marshall, Regional Sales Representative of Jackson & Perkins.