Belmont Estate is a premier tourism attraction in Grenada offering visitors the opportunity to learn about rural Grenadian life through tours of its organic farm, cocoa processing facilities, heritage museum and gardens, and Grenadian restaurant. The Belmont Estate dates back to the 1600s, producing coffee, nutmeg, sugar and coffee. Due to challenges in the agri-sector it sought to diversify its operations and thus opened the tourism component in 2002. Business was disrupted by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, resulting in the refurbishing of the facilities.
The property comprises a CERES certified organic farm with cocoa as the chief product, complemented by a variety of spices and rearing of livestock; a chocolate factory producing single source organic dark and milk chocolates; a heritage museum and gardens; a goat dairy producing goat cheese; a 250-seater Creole restaurant serving local foods; a chocolate bonbon shop, and gift shop. These multi-dimensional elements add to the appeal of the Estate, which offers tours of the cocoa to chocolate process, tropical gardens, and farms.
Belmont Estate employs approximately 100 workers and receives 25,000 visitors per year. The company has been recognized regionally and internationally as a model of best practice in agrotourism, and has played a pivotal role in Grenada’s tourism industry. The company partners with the local community college, the New Life Organisation, and the government to provide industry training in agriculture and tourism. There is also a branch of a local co-operative credit union on the estate, which offers membership to farmers, staff and residents.
Belmont Estate’s mission is to be a model of sustainable agriculture and tourism practices while also preserving heritage and creating extraordinary experiences. The estate has created a union of tourism, food production, environmental conservation, recognizing that this linkage is driven by the visitor’s interest in good food which is connected to good farming practices and great holiday experiences.
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