Grenada Turns To Nutmeg To Boost Economy

Until now, Grenada was famous as a paradise island in the Caribbean. The island lived primarily off its pristine blue waters, palm trees and white sand beaches. But Grenada wants to be known for more than that, and has a secret weapon: nutmeg.

Grenada is striving to make agriculture a second engine to boost its economy, after tourism, and has focused on its spices as an export potential. Thanks to its mild, warm climate and fertile land, several natural condiments grow naturally in Grenada, such as cinnamon, clove, ginger, and particularly, nutmeg.

According to numbers from the United Nations, the Caribbean nation is the second-largest producer of nutmeg in the world, surpassed only by Indonesia -- a country's that's 5,300 times bigger. Grenada is also the world's only producer of prime quality mace. The country’s main markets are the U.S. and the European Union.