The Sanderilla Thomas Bungalow in Rothschild Francis Square pulsed Tuesday morning with the life and energy of the markets of yesteryear. Bathed in the morning sun, the landmark institution offered its full bounty once again at Market Day, a part of the territory’s celebration of National Agriculture Week.
These days the market still holds on Saturdays, but without the vigor of its previous daily life. This is something Agriculture Commissioner Louis Peterson is working to remedy.
Tuesday marked the second of what’s now an annual Market Day. Looking over the growing crowd enjoying the venue, Petersen said, "You have to keep up the enthusiasm. You can’t let it become dormant."
There is little chance of that as the Agriculture Department is up to its elbows in projects taking root all over the territory. Partnering with the University of the Virgin Islands’ Cooperative Extension Service, the two agencies offer hands-on expertise, seedlings and cisterns to school gardens at several public schools and sponsor “Home Grown,” a WTJX–Channel 12 program hosted by UVI extension specialist Carlos Robles on Sunday mornings.
Most recently the department, in partnership with several government agencies and We Grow Food, Inc., celebrated the groundbreaking of the Bordeaux Farmers Reconstruction Project, a facility that will give farmers a permanent venue to sell fresh local fruits and vegetables every day.
In the meanwhile, Leonard Dober Elementary School youngsters swarmed all over the pavilion, their enthusiasm anything but dormant, exploring everything in sight from bok choy and beekeeping to trying out their voices on the radio.
The morning was filled with the enthusiasm Petersen sought, and then some, bringing everyone from a few curious tourists to local folk delighted at the lush display of vegetables, fruit, honeys and general goodwill.
Edwina Marsh and Noel Jackson took a respite perching on a low wall with bowls of kallaloo. "It’s so good," Marsh said, adding wisely, "Eat first, then shop."
The heady aromas of fresh basil, mint and thyme drifted through the sunlit morning, leading to the sidewalk stand of enterprising farmer Charlie "Sweetman" Leonard, who was performing curb service.
"People are on their way to work," Leonard said while hoisting a guava tree for a waiting vehicle. "They can’t stop for long."
"This spot feels right," said Leonard, who has been a fixture at the market since 1980. "I couldn’t fit all I have in a smaller area. Along with the herbs, kale, bok choy and peppers, Leonard had cartons of fresh brown eggs, and, of course, chickens.
He stopped to answer questions from a swarm of Dober school children who, with teacher Cheryl Davis, were busily taking notes.
"What’s this?" one asked, "I’ve never seen it before."
"Bok choy," Leonard explained. "You should tell your mom about it. It’s good and it’s good for you."
"I learned about mustard seeds," another student said. "How they make mustard. I didn’t know that’s where mustard came from."
Another student was still transfixed by North Side farmer Charles Berry’s display of bees inside a glassed-in hive in the bungalow, "We got to see them and learn how they make honey!"
One of the biggest draws of the day was the WSTA microphone of Irvin "Brownie" Brown. The students gathered around him, eager to make their comments heard.
"We’re having a very good time, so come right down," instructed one student, seemingly delirious with the power of his own voice.
Though it was the St. Thomas farmers’ day, St. Croix held its own with two stands filled to the brim with brilliant yellow squash, deep green kale and collard greens, bright red and green peppers, and cantaloupe muskmelons, something rarely, if ever, seen on St. Thomas.
St. Thomas butcher Patrick Olive worked side by side with St. Croix farmer Bernard Fieulleteau of the V.I. Farmers Cooperative, throwing squashes and melons up from a nearby pickup to the stands, as the produce quickly disappeared into happy St. Thomian hands.
While the crowd kept a beat to the steel pan tunes of Carl Freeman, folks pored over the fragrant displays of produce and honeys, picking up bags of tomatoes, kale and spinach.
As the sun beat down, for just one day, it really was like the markets of years gone by.
A market day is scheduled for St. John Wednesday at the National Park Ball field in downtown Cruz Bay.
Thursday on St. Croix, the V.I. Agriculture Department will hold an open house at Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agriculture Complex, where the annual V.I. Agrifest is held.
Individual V.I. farmers and the Department of Tourism partnered with the Agriculture Department and Cooperative Extension Services to put together the celebrations. The days will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
