Cultivating
Sustainable Futures

Darilyn Smart (Caribbean), Managing Director of Smart Foods Caribbean: Building resilient supply chains for agriculture

From value-added food products to partnerships with local farmers, Darilyn Smart has built her entrepreneurial journey around strengthening Caribbean agriculture. As Managing Director of Smart Foods Caribbean, she leads the strategic direction of the family-owned agro-processing business with a mission to take authentic Caribbean foods and flavours to the world.Founded in 2011, Smart Foods Caribbean began, like many small businesses, from a practical need. What began as a small family venture has grown into a company producing value-added food products made from Caribbean ingredients. Its range includes soaked fruits for Caribbean black cakes, preservative-free pepper sauces, condiments and fruit products, with a focus on clean, safe and nutritious food.In recent years, the company has embarked on a new chapter by relocating its fruit and vegetable processing operations from Trinidad and Tobago to Grenada, where it is establishing a new processing facility under the brand Oui Island. This transition reflects Darilyn's determination to continue growing the business while creating stronger links with regional agriculture. Through a structured outgrower programme, the company aims to build a robust, inclusive and sustainable supply chain by working closely with local farmers.Smart Foods Caribbean has benefited from technical support through the COLEAD Fit for Market Plus programme to support the design and initial implementation of this outgrower scheme. The assistance provided practical tools for farmer engagement, monitoring and partnership development, together with an action plan to guide the next phase of implementation and help build a reliable supply of high-quality raw materials. In addition, the company also participated in several courses through COLEAD's e-learning platform, including Building and Developing a Successful Outgrower Scheme.A strong advocate for entrepreneurship, Darilyn is particularly passionate about supporting women in business. Her ambition is to help women-led enterprises grow beyond the home kitchen and build businesses that can reach wider markets.Through Smart Foods Caribbean, Darilyn Smart is working towards a more resilient Caribbean food system. By strengthening partnerships with farmers, preserving authentic Caribbean flavours and creating value from local produce, she is helping build a future where farmers thrive and the region's food heritage continues to grow.This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.