Last month the Economic Development Department approved the payment to Kazz Padidar, a local forager, who submitted a business proposal for his latest enterprise in January.
Mr Padidar has been bottling ‘Jersey air’ at Classic Herd Farm in St Peter – the site with the best air in the Island, according to tests he carried out over a period of three months.
He captures air with a modified fishing net, traps it in glass jars and then ships the product to several markets in China – where each jar retails for as much as $40.
The States grant of £12,000 has been used to purchase air foraging equipment (including extra nets, special filters and a 120-litre ‘holding tank’) and to formally register the company. Mr Padidar also spent more than £4,000 on a two-week trip to Beijing, where he arranged for small adverts to be placed in particular ‘smoggy’ parts of the city.
The Economic Development Department was not available for comment but a spokesperson issued the following statement: ‘A grant of £12,000 was awarded to Mr Padidar after he demonstrated that his business had huge potential and was likely to be profitable for the Island. The money was issued after an extensive review of the company’s finances and it was stipulated that the grant must be used to advertise the business abroad and to ensure that it would become an official member of the Craft Air Registry.’
Farmer Darren Quénault said that he was delighted when Mr Padidar asked if he could ‘forage’ for air at Classic Farm but was surprised to find out how many regulations had to be adhered to in the fledgling industry.
Full story in Saturday’s JEP.
