For love and farming: God’s grace guides couple’s journey from hardship to success

KINGSTON, Jamaica — What began as a move to Trelawny for love has blossomed into a successful farming business, with faith in God helping to sustain a couple through years of financial hardship and uncertainty. Adrian Robinson, 55, who hails from Cessnock, Hanover, established ANR in 1994 after relocating to Perth Town, Trelawny. He met his wife, Nannette Robinson, while working at Couples Swept Away in Negril, where he was a bartender and she was the resort’s purchasing manager. It was Nannette who first recognised the potential in sourcing fruits and vegetables from farmers in St Elizabeth to supply hotels. With her relatives owning property in Trelawny, she envisioned establishing a farming operation there, a decision that would eventually change the course of their lives. “I came here [Trelawny] because she moved to Negril. I came here for love, and love turned me into a farmer,” Robinson said. ANR was established on a section of Hampstead property, an old sugar estate that belonged to Nannette’s ancestors, who were originally from Scotland. But farming proved far more demanding than they anticipated, and their limited resources were quickly exhausted. “When we came here, whatever little resources we had was spent up, and we got into serious financial difficulties. As a matter of fact, we had three children at the time, and I was about 24 years old. We didn’t have any job, and at the time we were just trying to farm and live off the land,” he recalled. The financial strain became so severe that they struggled to meet even their basic household expenses. “Things got so bad that we weren’t able to pay not even our utility bills, and right there it was very challenging. There were nights when I didn’t want to see tomorrow because I didn’t know what to do with tomorrow. But then I started reading my Bible and praying, and I know it had to be God that really held my hands and helped me,” Robinson said. The farm began modestly with just 200 hot pepper plants and 200 pounds of papaya, which cost $600 at the time. Robinson said they started selling the produce in quantities of 10 and 20 pounds to Half Moon Hotel and other hotels along the north coast. Demand grew, but financing remained a challenge.

The Robinson family (Photo: Gavin Jones)

Hotels did not always pay immediately, with some taking as long as two months to settle invoices. This made it difficult to secure the money needed to maintain a consistent supply. In the interim, Robinson took up employment to help provide for his children and meet other household expenses. He later returned his attention to the farm. He said ANR has continued to expand since then, and he hopes his experience will encourage others who are pursuing dreams that may not initially be understood by those around them. “I just want to use my story to encourage somebody else who has a dream because a lot of persons did not share our dream. I myself didn’t see it either, but there was just something inside me giving me that drive to move forward, and I thank God every day for that,” he said. Robinson said the challenges strengthened his faith though he had not considered himself particularly religious. He credited his wife, whom he married approximately 27 years ago, with playing a significant role in his spiritual journey. When Nannette decided to be baptised, he was initially hesitant, telling her that he would accompany her but was not yet ready to take the same step. However, on the morning of the baptism, he surprised her by being the first to be baptised. He described his wife as someone who continually sets the pace for him, adding, “The success of a man depends on a really good woman behind him.” He said Nannette's contribution to the business extended far beyond her initial vision. During the early years, when they could not afford to employ workers, the couple handled all the farming activities themselves. “She has been a hard, dedicated woman because at one point we could not afford to employ anyone at all. My wife and I had to do all the work,” he said. Their four children also helped in the development of the business, helping with harvesting while younger and later accompanying delivery trucks during the summer holidays to learn about the operation. The children are now adults: Krystol Hewitt, 37; Denver Hewitt, 35; Jaimie Robinson, 33; and Jazzmine Robinson, 31. Reflecting on the journey, Adrian is encouraging people facing difficulties or struggling to gain support for their ambitions to remain grounded in faith and integrity. His advice is simple “Turn to God for advice and pray about it, and be honest in what you are doing.”