In the cool hills of Bangor Ridge, Portland, where lush vegetation stretches as far as the eye can see, 36-year-old Shernett Cobran stands as a testament of her family's rich agricultural legacy. Of her parents' five children, she is the only one who has chosen to embrace the challenges and joys of being a fourth-generation coffee farmer. "I grew up watching my mom and dad doing farming, and of course, as children we used to help out on the farm, and from then I just fell in love with it," Cobran explained.
Cobran started her own two-acre farm at the age of 26. Despite being the only child to actively take on farming, she does get support. One brother, who is a student at the College of Arts, Science and Education in Portland, helps out on her farm occasionally.
Meanwhile, her mother, who operates a shop with Cobran's twin sister, pitches in to help her sell her produce in downtown Kingston. Cobran's other sister owns and operates a shop in Ocho Rios, St Ann, where she lives, while her younger brother is in high school. "I feel really proud to continue this tradition because I actually have a passion for it, and that makes it much easier for me," Cobran said.
In addition to coffee, Cobran also grows banana and plantain, and at times, cash crops like sweet peppers, tomatoes and carrots. She told THE STAR that when she is not farming she works as a cashier. But farming will alway have her heart.
"Yes, I have my nine-to-five, but I don't like it; I prefer my farming," Cobran sai.