OPERATION BREADBASKET: A U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Operation Breadbasket was a program of the Virgin Islands Farmers Cooperative (VIFC).The primary goal of this program was to reverse the 45-year decline of agricultural production in the U.S. Virgin Islands by reducing the risk of farming through training and community outreach. The technical staff of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Cooperative Extension Service, UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, UVI Small Business Development Center, Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue partnered with the VIFC to conduct risk management training in vegetable crop and small livestock production, farm business development and income tax preparation. The nature of the training was hands-on, onsite; practical applications, instructions and demonstrations for the purpose of having the producer reduce risk, and utilize improved sustainable production methods. Training was conducted on various farms on the island of St. Croix. On each of the farms an assessment was conducted to evaluate and strengthen the producer's knowledge of their farm operations and the utilization of emerging technologies and practices. The program used seven crops (watermelon, tomato, eggplant, okra, cucumber, bell pepper and cantaloupe), small livestock production (sheep, goats and pigs), improved forage management, farm business planning, recordkeeping and tax preparation to provide the participants with the tools needed to successfully manage an efficient farming enterprise. The training was intended to help transition limited resource, socially disadvantaged farmers into productive and profitable farmers through the creation of new farming enterprises and the increased availability of high-quality, locally-grown food. The program provided practical training in farm management, financial management, marketing, production, crop insurance and other risk management tools to educate U.S. Virgin Islands farmers on how to increase their production and income. The program trained producers in various methods of sustainable farming to reduce risks and increase crop, livestock and forage production. The program sought to use the agriculture training as a means to: create a social and economic stimulus while improving the image of farming to attract and develop new farmers. The anticipated outcome is an improvement in our local food system, food security, and overall quality of life in the territory