The U.S. Virgin Islands Local Food and Farm Council (LFFC) announces the 2024 winners of $500,567 in available grant funds that will be used by recipients to advance the mission of improving food security in the territory. The grants come from the Public-Private Partnership Investment Fund, created under Mandate 2 of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Plan and funded by ACT 8700.
Out of a total of 106 applications, 12 farmers, fishers and related organizations, representing all three islands, were chosen by the Council’s Review and Selection Committee. The Request for Applications was made public during island-specific town halls this past spring and through outreach to the farming and fishing communities. The grant winners are:
Recipient Name – Tier – Island – Type – Amount
Leonardo Perez / Bordeaux Botanica, Tier 1, STJ, Farmer, $42,500
Alexander Zimmerman / Fishwater Charters, Tier 1, STX, Fisher, $55,000
Errol A. Chichester, Tier 1, STX, Farmer, $21,081
Eric Ahrens /Mycelium Man, Tier 1, STX, Farmer, $25,000
Jacklyn M. Frett, Tier 2, STT, Farmer, $40,000
Trevor Warner/Pleasant Valley Farm, Tier 2, STX, Farmer, $57,000
Roniel Allembert / VI Honey Man, Tier 2, STX, Farmer, $54,616
Dean Leonard / Ideal Farm LLC, Tier 2, STT, Farmer, $65,370
Derick Hodge / Staff of Life, Tier 2, STT, Farmer. $50,000
Lenn Bully / Strictly Roots LLC Farms, Tier 2, STX, Farmer, $25,000
Roy Rodgers / VI Farmers Alliance Inc., Tier 2, STX, Org., $50,000
Jamie Phillips Kennedy / JP Roots Farm, Tier 2, STJ, Farmer, $15,000
Tier 1 designates those with 0 – 5 years of experience and Tier 2 designates those with 5 or more years of experience.
Of the 106 applications received, 79 were from farmers, 25 were from fishers and two were from organizations. Applicants spanned the territory with 57 from St. Croix, 40 from St. Thomas and 9 from St. John. A total of $4,683,541.46 in funding was requested.
“We are gratified by the dedication of the many grant applicants in envisioning a better future and enhanced food security for the territory, and thank them for their submissions,” said Louis E. Petersen Jr., Ph.D., co-chair of LFFC and commissioner of agriculture. “Our sincere congratulations go to the winners. These grants empower farmers and fishers with the financial resources necessary to bring their impressive plans to fruition, allowing vital progress on local sustainable food production.”
“We appreciate the legislature and Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. for their efforts in funding these grants and recognizing the importance of these investments and the individual efforts of grantees toward the collective goal of advancing food sovereignty,” added David Hall, Ph.D., former co-chair of Local Food and Farm Council and recently retired president of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). “We look forward to the exponential returns that will surely be sowed.”
Improving food security in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where currently 97% of the food supply is imported according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, is critical. Importation of food not only leaves the territory susceptible to shortages and hurts local producers economically, but it impacts freshness and nutritional value and brings additional transportation costs that significantly increase what Virgin Islanders pay compared to what residents stateside pay for the same items.
The environment is impacted as well, including an increased carbon footprint, excessive packaging/waste, etc. The Agricultural Plan was approved and endorsed by the governor and ratified by the 34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, with funding appropriated last year by the 35th Legislature.
Grantees will receive instructions on the grant process including the timeline for fund disbursement, the Local Food and Farm Council Funding Agreement, necessary documentation/reporting and other details. Regular updates will be provided ongoing via email and the online portal.
For more information on Local Food and Farm Council programming, please visit www.vilocalfoodandfarmcouncil.org. To share feedback, contact 693-1003 or vilocalfoodandfarmcouncil@doa.vi.gov.
