The St. Thomas Agriculture Resources Workshop and Listening Session for farmers and producers will be held on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023, from 6-8pm at the LaVerne E. Ragster Administration and Conference Center at the UVI, St. Thomas Campus. This event is hosted by VI Good Food Coalition (VIGFC) and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).
Farmers and producers of all experience levels are invited to attend. RSVPs are requested and can be made at: https://bit.ly/STTAgEventAug8
The Agriculture Resources Workshop was piloted in November 2022 on St. Croix, and will be an annual event across the territory to provide options for farmers to meet with technical assistance and federal resources partners for consultations related to agriculture and business assistance needs. Farmers will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one for consultations and participate in workshops related to finance and business best practices.
The August 8th event in St. Thomas will start with a meet and greet with the VI Good Food team who works to support farmers and build food security in the territory through providing marketplace creation and access, technical assistance and services, education outreach, data collection and advocacy.
The meet and greet will be followed by discussions about services offered by VIGFC and other services in the community to support the development of the upcoming VI Farmer Technical Assistance Workshops series. The workshop series is designed to provide support to farmers in a small group setting to help increase the understanding of targeted resource opportunities in the community including programs offered by USDA, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) and banking. This comprehensive workshop series brings together seasoned experts, industry professionals, and technical assistance providers to walk farmers through the processes and policies through practical guidance and support. Through interactive sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and collaborative discussions, participants gain insights into the latest advancements in farming techniques, sustainable practices, precision agriculture, and efficient resource management.
The event will conclude with a listening session, providing farmers and producers the opportunity to share their experiences in agriculture and in navigating various local and federal programs geared towards supporting farmers. The listening session and feedback will help inform the design and content of the VI Farmer Technical Assistance Workshops, to ensure farmers needs are being met with the workshops offered.
Light food and refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact VI Good Food Coalition at info@goodfoodvi.org or 340-643-4381.