Increasing Food Security on the U.S. Virgin Islands

As Virgin Islanders mobilize to increase their food security, the University of the Virgin Islands’ Caribbean Green Technology Center and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands teamed up to aid farmers and families by donating more than 850 fruit trees on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

Farmers and residents of all islands received a selection of mango, avocado, and papaya trees to increase their orchards or home gardens. These trees will support the rebuilding of farms across the territory, many of which were devastated by the 2017 hurricanes. Once mature in a few years, fruits from those trees will improve access to healthy fresh food and increase agricultural production in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

To identify families to receive the trees, the project was paired with a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture emergency COVID-19 grant program designed to aid families in dealing with mental health issues and isolation during the pandemic so they could get involved in gardening while sheltering in place. For more information, read this University of the Virgin Islands news article.