The rolling green hills of UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Arts will be filled with activity this weekend for the 27th St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair. "Fresh Start, Grow Smart" is the theme for this year’s celebration of local produce, food, music, dancing and fun.
Opening ceremonies are at 2 p.m. Saturday, featuring awards to the 2009 Crop Farmer and Livestock Farmer.
This year’s theme reflects the need for farmers to organize and modernize in order to increase profitability, said Dale Morton, the fair’s public relations officer. "In order to be a successful farmer, you need a plan," Morton said Tuesday.
To this end, the community has gotten behind the farmers in recent years, becoming more aware of local produce. GrowVI, a local not-for-profit, and Fintrac, an international agribusiness with headquarters on St. Thomas, are working with the farmers to help institute new technologies.
In addition to the monthly Bordeaux farmers’ market, which is celebrating its 13th year Jan. 16 and 17, there is a market at Yacht Haven Grande with farmers from Bordeaux, the North Side, St. Croix and St. John every first and third Sunday; and a third market at the V.I. Bush Tea Garden in Smith Bay every weekend.
This Saturday, Morton said, will feature a beekeeping demonstration, where folks will get a look at the inside of a beehive, or, if you like, a demonstration of goat and sheep herding, or fruit grafting or juice making.
Or, there will be the traditional food booths, tables to sit beneath shade trees and listen to the music while comparing notes on plants, mango chutney, avocados or whatever else you’ve purchased.
For the kiddies, there will be the popular baby bunnies to pet and chicks to play with.
The Heritage Dancers, Addelita Cancryn High Junior High School Quadrille Dancers and St. John’s Ah We Band will keep feet tapping on both days.
Judges will award prizes Sunday for the best ital food, sweet bread, maubi and dumb bread.
There is still time to sign up for the competition. Competitors should call Mary Bertie before Thursday at the Dept. of Agriculture at 774-5182.
For further information, contact Morton at 693-1086 or via email: dmorton@uvi.edu
The fair opens Saturday and runs all weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $2 for adults and $1 for children.
The event is sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, the V.I. Department of Agriculture, the Fair Committee and Fintrac.
