After a long period of idleness we knew there would be a long way to go. We were still to launch the most important – the production.
The operation of the business and activation of the machines were both in the responsibility of our Caribbean colleague and we have finally been able to launch the production of our own Moringa Caribbean. We have set high standards to collecting Moringa – that means to collect it into baskets – and not plastic bags like many do. The leaves are brought to our modern pacilities straight away where they are measured, washed and processed immediately.
We have been expecting impatiently the first delivery from the Caibbeans – and when we have obtained our first delivery, we have sent our product to be analysed. My disappointment must have been unmistakable when we have had the results – they have not been excellent.
Problematic beginnings
We have eagerly reviewed the whole process, from the collecting to the point where the Moringa is grinded into powder. We have also checked the quality of water. We have finally discovered that the manger of the production has not used any disinfections! Having thought it was something self-evident and important, I have neglected to inform him on the necessity to disinfect the leaves.
It has cost us a lot of effort and energy to explain how to wear the protective coats and gloves, how to disinfect their hands when entering the facilities. We have also accentuated that there is no point wearing a protective coat if they keep their everyday clothes underneath, and also that it is was not acceptable to go to the loo in their protective wear.
We have come to understand why our manager has been against the cameras in our facilities. He has used many excuses, ranging from cameras being broken, IT assistant not having come to fix fix them. Finally he has decided to start his own business and has left our company.
We needed to learn from our mistakes
We have disposed of the first batch of Moringa that has not been perfect.
The production has been stopped and we have started over again. We have painted the premises, disinfected and cleaned the machines – and they are cleaned daily since in order to maintain our high standards. The cameras are running and they are installed on my iPhone so that I can check any time what is going on in the premises when I am at home in Vienna or in the company in Slovakia. You might ask if I am silly to openly admit our Moring has not been perfect back then, and I cannot emphasize enough that clean Moringa and the hight quality of the processing is our hallmark.
I have just mentioned it, because I can admit my mistakes and failures. This is also important so that everyone knows how much effort is there in one bottle of Moringa Caribbean. How much sweat is there behind the production, expedition to the EU and filling to capsules and bottles.
The unpunctuality in the paradise
It is great to be in the Caribbeans and to have a business there, but we have run into a very different kind of thinking. Almost everyone takes their time and it happens that your business lunch planned at 12AM actually takes place at 3PM.
On the other hand, I must say that people at St. Lucia are very friendly and we have managed to make some friends, also thanks to our daughter that has attended a local school during our 3-week.long stay. We are learning to understand the Caribbean mentality and not to get stressed out by unmet deadlines and late arrival.
Jarka Bartos & Moringa Caribbean 