Celebrating Agricultural Excellence at the 52nd St. Croix Agrifest

At the forefront of Caribbean agricultural excellence, the 52nd Annual Agriculture and Food Fair in St. Croix concluded on a high note, with Steven Charles, Fransisco Dorado, and Charles Burton receiving top honors as Beekeeper, Livestock Farmer, and Crop Farmer of the year, respectively. The fair has evolved into a premier agricultural showcase, attracting participants from across the Caribbean, including St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, and Grenada, to display their products and share in the spirit of agricultural innovation and sustainability.

The event was graced by notable figures such as BVI Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who highlighted the critical importance of sustainability in Caribbean agriculture. The Department of Agriculture lauded the honorees for embodying this year’s theme, “Agriculture: Our Future and So Much More,” through their substantial contributions to the agricultural sector of the territory.

Praise was also extended by Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, who recognized the honorees for their unwavering dedication and pivotal role in advancing the territory’s agricultural frontiers.

Steven Charles, celebrated for his decade-long commitment to beekeeping, aims to expand his operations to enable honey exports from St. Croix. Fransisco Dorado, celebrated for his lifelong dedication to farming, has made significant contributions to the livestock sector in the USVI. Charles Burton, originally from the Dominican Republic and the 2024 Crop Farmer of the Year, acknowledged the local government’s increased involvement in agriculture, which has supported his and other farmers’ endeavors.

In a touching tribute, this year’s Agrifest Farmers Market was dedicated to Gloria Florita Neil-Felix, a longstanding participant and former Farmer of the Year, remembered for her dedication and bountiful harvests over three decades.

The fair also honored Melba Diana Williams and Avril Williams for their service and dedication as food vendors, and the livestock pavilion was named in honor of the Four H Teen Ambassadors, celebrating their fifteen years of dedication to the fair’s success.

A significant moment at the fair was the acknowledgment of Dr. David Hall’s retirement as president of the University of the Virgin Islands, marking the end of an era in the territory’s agricultural education and development.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. emphasized the theme of sustainability and agricultural self-sufficiency, outlining government initiatives to support farmers and increase local agricultural production by 33% as part of Vision 2040 and the Agriculture Plan. He encouraged Virgin Islanders to engage more deeply with the agricultural sector, underscoring the importance of sustainability and support for the next generation of farmers.

The annual Agrifest, held at the Rudolph Shulterbrandt Agricultural Complex in Estate Lower Love, St. Croix, continues to be a beacon of agricultural prowess, innovation, and community in the Caribbean.