Jamaica Herbal Business Association moves to link Herbs, Indigenous
Dance & Music and Tourism
Montego River Gardens,
Montego Bay, Jamaica. March 29, 2009
Herbfest 2009will profile Jamaica's rich botanical
heritage of plants, herbs, spices, and natural ingredients and the natural
linkage with music to healing and a holistic approach to wellness and health.
Our purpose for undertaking this event emanates from a need to place Caribbean
natural products in the global marketplace and highlight our uniqueness in
natural health.
Regarded as a treasure chest of
documented herbs, Jamaica hosts 81% of the 126 most popular herbs in the world,
moreover for centuries, medicinal plants have provided and continued to be one
of the most important raw materials for the pharmaceutical/remedies, food,
beverage and cosmetic industries.
The Rastafari Indigenous Village as a major tourist
attraction through its promotion of healthy lifestyles and tradition, coupled
with traditional folk dance and drum rhythms promises to highlight not only the
rich cultural bounty but the natural synergy with the use of traditional herbs
and plants.
The guest speaker Mr. Mark Blumenthal,
Founder/Executive Director, The American Botanical Council (ABC) and Editor/Publisher,
Herbal Gram, has been an herbal consultant, advisor, educator and researcher
for the past 33 yrs, and has published over 400 articles on the subject of
medicinal and aromatic herbs. He will be lecture on the "The Sustainable Production
of Quality Herbs and the Economic Potential for the Caribbean on the World
Market".
Herbfest 2009 has been the brainchild of JHBA President, Dr. Diane Robertson who has
also had a most distinguished career of 26 years; as a pioneer and foremost
herbal consultant, a community Pharmacist (over 20 years), an author, lecturer
and consultant in ethno-medicine and the producer of a line of herbal body
products called Bandana Secrets.
Visitors to Herbfest 2009 can participate in the
series of lectures, enjoy the entertainment, sample and purchase local herbal
products from more than 15 companies and enjoy the grand event finale and Tea
Party.
We invite you to experience Herbfest 2009 and join us in realizing the economic opportunities
of our indigenous herbs and culture.
