Hendy Farms
Family-Owned Mango Farm
It’s a family affair for Sandra Snowden and Rita Brobey of Hendy Farms, a mango farm just outside of Accra, Ghana. The sisters, who both relocated from England to Ghana 8 and 12 years ago, recognized the potential of their father’s ailing 20 acre mango farm. Eventually, they transformed their father’s hobby into a professional pursuit that is now a Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified farm. Sandra and Rita commercialized the farm in 2017 when they started generating income from their produce. While Hendy Farms currently does sell fresh mangos to foreign markets, they also offer unique shelf-stable products from produce grown on their farm. This includes honey from their bee apiary and soon, intercropped vegetables for when mangos are out of season. “It’s all learning,” says Rita, “Once we start off in one direction, we like to see where we can go with it.”
Est. 2017
Hendy Farms
When did you start your business?
The farm was owned by our dad who started it in 1997 when the first trees were planted. It was a “pension project” for him. Dad died 12 years ago and the farm had been abandoned when we both moved back to Ghana. We officially registered our business in December 2017.
Why did you start?
We started the Hendy Farms brand as a means of reducing the post-harvest loss we were facing on our farm and neighboring farms. Finding a way to transform fruits that otherwise did not meet fresh export and supermarket requirements.
What motivates you to keep going?
We are focused on building a reputable brand and business that can be taken over again by the 3rd generation in the family.
What do you wish people knew about your business?
We process value added products made from real fruits with no preservatives or additives. All products are gluten-free, dairy-free and highly nutritional.
What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
Check phones, sadly.
What is your favorite detoxing regimen?
Lemon and ginger tea, works a treat.
What are you most grateful for?
Family.
What’s the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
Pray.
What makes you awesome?
Being our true selves, always.
Where do you give yourself license to have fun?
With adventurous food and trying new things.
Do you have a favorite mantra?
"Do your best always. Rome wasn't built in a day."
What do you love most about Africa?
The great opportunities and potential it offers to us.
What frustrates you most about Africa?
The opportunities being wasted and not fully realized.
Sandra and Rita are co-founders of their family-owned mango farm.
