>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫ ♫ >>> GOOD DAY AND WELCOME TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

I´M YOUR HOST, AMELIA HEADLEY LAMONT, OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT WE IMPORT 98% OF OUR FOOD?

WELL, TO RESPOND TO THIS PRETTY SERIOUS STATISTIC, I´M EXCITED TO WELCOME TODAY THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS GOOD FOOD COALITION.

HER NAME IS SUMMER SIBLEY BROWN.

AND GOOD DAY.

I´M HOPING YOU CAN TELL US HOW WE CAN FIX THIS.

>> GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO EXCITED TO BE HERE ON "ABLE TO RAISE."

YEAH, HOW WE CAN FIX THIS.

I MEAN, I GUESS THE NAME OF YOUR SHOW ENCAPSULATED, RIGHT, WHAT ARE WE ABLE TO RAISE?

ARE WE ABLE TO RAISE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE EQUITABLY?

WE HAVE TO HAVE INCLUSION OF OUR VOICE AND IT´S ABOUT CONSIDERING WHAT THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS ARE, NOT THE -- NOT THE EXISTING SYSTEM, WHICH REALLY MIRRORS A TOP DOWN, ANTIQUATED FOOD SYSTEM THAT GETS FOOD FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.

>> OKAY.

I SAW YOU IN ANOTHER VIDEO, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE BY A PERSON NEAR AND DEARTOUS, HOW DO YOU CONSUME AN ELEPHANT?

IT´S LIKE YOU´RE TAKING ON QUITE A BIT.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU EVEN GOT INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER.

>> OKAY.

SO FIRST OF ALL, VIRGIN ISLANDER, BORN ON ST. THOMAS, LIVED ON ST. CROIX FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE.

AND I GOT INVOLVED, I USED TO WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE CLASSROOM HAD FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS AND THERE WAS A PROJECT WE WERE WORKING ON.

IT WAS AROUND WHAT DO YOUTH GENERALLY DO TO BE INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE.

SO WITH THAT SCHOOL PROGRAM, IT IS REALLY HOW I BEGAN WORKING WITH AGRICULTURE.

SO I SAY MY JOB, MY PASSION IS I GET FROM THOSE FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS, WE DID A COMPETITIVE PROJECT, THEY WON THIRD PLACE.

BUT THEY ASKED ME, CAN WE MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

WE TELL CHILDREN THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT TO.

I WOULD HAVE FELT HYPOCRITICAL IF I DIDN´T TAKE THEM UP ON THAT AND IT LED ME TO THIS.

>> LET´S TALK ABOUT THIS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE INTERESTING IDEAS HOW TO MAKE FARM-TO-SCHOOL, BUT ALSO FARM TO COMMUNITY MORE OF A REALITY.

I KNOW YOU TOUCHED UPON SOME THINGS SUCH AS -- LET´S TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT PROGRAMS.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

>> SO MY CURRENT PROGRAMS WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE FARM-TO-SCHOOL.

BUT WHAT WE LEARNED ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF THE DISASTERS AND THE PANDEMIC IS THERE NEEDED TO BE A FOCUS ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO FOOD, EVEN WHEN GROCERY STORES WERE NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE.

SO WE´RE CREATING A VIRTUAL FARMER´S MARKET.

WE GOT FUNDED BY USDA AGRICULTURE MARKETING SERVICE.

IT´S THE FIRST TIME THE VIRGIN ISLANDS RECEIVED THIS FUNDING.

IN THE TUNE OF $414,000, TO BUILD AND CREATE A VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE.

NOW, WE HAVE EXISTING ONLINE FARMERS MARKETS, SO THIS IS NOT TO COMPETE WITH THOSE MARKETS, BUT TO ENHANCE THE MARKETPLACE BY MAKING -- WE MAKE A FRAMEWORK TO VEND ONLINE WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PRESET UP FOR THEM.

>> SO IS THIS FARMERS MARKET IN EXISTENCE NOW?

IS THERE A WEBSITE SOMEBODY CAN GO TO AND SAY I WANT TO GO HERE AND BUY X, Y, OR Z?

>> SO WE ARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PHASES.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS IT WILL BE ONLINE AND IT WILL BE AN APP.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE EXISTING STATE OF OUR PRODUCERS, BECAUSE WE JUST FINISHED A MARKETING PORTION, THEY´RE GOING TO NEED HELP WITH THE MARKETING, MARKETING THEIR PRODUCE ONLINE.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN SEARCH OF THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY, I FORGET THE NAME, BUT BASICALLY THE RIGHT PERSON TO BUILD THE APP AND THE WEBSITE WHILE WE ARE DOING THE BACK END WORK, DOING THE MARKETING ANALYSIS, FIGURING OUT WHAT TECHNOLOGY FARMERS HAVE ACCESS TO.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FILL THAT NEED FIRST.

AND THEN THE RECRUITMENT OF FARMERS TO BEGIN OUR PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH WILL LAUNCH AT THE END OF 2022.

>> EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

SO YOU REFER TO YOURSELF AS A FOOD SYSTEM ADVOCATE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, FOOD ADVOCATE, BECAUSE I DON´T GROW FOOD, RIGHT?

I THINK OF MYSELF, IF I´M AN AMPLIFIER FOR PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS, TO PLUG THEIR NEED INTO, I ENDEAVOR TO USE OUR VOICE TO AMPLIFY THINGS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT COMMUNITY AND PRODUCERS AROUND FOOD.

BECAUSE I ADVOCATE FOR THIS, I´M VERY MINDFUL OF ALL OF THE WISDOM AND THE WORK THAT GOES INTO AGRICULTURE, AND SO WHAT IS -- SO I´M AN ADVOCATE.

I´M NOT ACTUALLY THE FOOD PRODUCER.

THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL TO ME IS I TALK ABOUT THE FOOD SYSTEM, RIGHT?

I DON´T TALK ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.

INDUSTRY IS PART OF THE OVERARCHING SYSTEM.

SYSTEM IS FROM SEED BACK TO GROUND TO COMPOST.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE PIECES OF IT.

HISTORICALLY, THE CONVERSATION IN AGRICULTURE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS BEEN AROUND PRODUCTION.

HOW DO WE INCREASE PRODUCTION.

WE NEED MORE THAN PRODUCTION.

THERE´S PACKAGING AND MARKETING AND PREPARATION.

THERE IS SUPPLIES, RIGHT?

AND SO I THINK WE DON´T REALIZE THE FULLNESS OF AGRICULTURE, BECAUSE WE´RE STILL TALKING ABOUT JUST THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF HOW TO GROW MORE FOOD, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

>> RIGHT.

THERE´S MORE.

AND THERE´S SOME PHRASES THAT ARE SAID THAT SOME OF WOUS YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND, BUT SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT SPEAKING IN THE CURRENT PARLANCE, SO TO SPEAK, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY FOOD SECURITY?

>> GOOD FOOD HAS A REALLY SPECIFIC DEFINITION.

SO IN GENERAL, THE USDA WOULD PROBABLY DETERMINE FOOD SECURITY BEING THE RIGHT OF EVERY HOUSEHOLD TO HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, AND THAT IS FOOD SECURITY.

WE WANT FOODS TO HAVE -- WE WANT HOMES TO HAVE FOOD.

I CONSIDER FOOD SECURITY THE RIGHT OF EVERY HOUSEHOLD TO HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN, CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD.

WE DON´T HAVE THOSE CHOICES.

WE HAVE LOTS OF GROCERY STORES, BUT MOST OF THAT FOOD IS PREPACKAGED AND BROUGHT IN.

WE ARE NOT GOING INTO THE STORE AND SEEING THINGS LOCALLY SOURCED.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

THAT´S TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.

ANOTHERCOMES UP IS THE TERM "SUSTAINABLE."

WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM LOOK LIKE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE?

>> A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM FOR ME IS ONE THAT ENSHURS, WHEN WE LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY, WE´RE LOOKING AT TWO THINGS, RIGHT?

THE VIABILITY ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PRODUCER.

THE CONSUMPTION OF NUTRIENTS AFFORDED TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE STEWARDSHIP OF THAT PIECE, THE LAND, WATER, AND AIR RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE SO THAT OUR CHILDREN´S CHILDREN´S CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, SEVEN GENERATIONS AHEAD VSHGS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY.

>> SO IS THE WORK THAT YOU´RE DOING, I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD INVOLVE A COALITION OR A COLLABORATION WITH THE FARMERS, HOW ABOUT THE MARKETERS OR THE PACKAGERS, HOW DO ALL THOSE PIECES FIT IN, IN YOUR VISION?

>> IRONICALLY, IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE LOOK AT OUR FOOD SYSTEM, THERE ARE GAPING HOLES IN IT.

THERE ARE GAPS.

SO WE HAVE FOOD PRODUCERS, RIGHT?

AND WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THOSE PRODUCERS, BUT WE DON´T HAVE PACKAGERS, WE DON´T HAVE MANUFACTURERS.

SHOUT OUT TO THE PROCESS CENTER THAT´S BEING WORKED ON.

WE ALSO NEED FOOD DISTRIBUTORS TO THEN GET OUR LOCAL FOOD, WHICH IS PROBABLY VALUE ADDED PROCESSED AND PACKAGED DIFFERENTLY INTO STORES, TO THEN COMPLETE OUR FOOD SYSTEM.

WE HAVE BECOME SO DEPENDANT ON FOOD COMING IN ON A SHIP THAT WE DON´T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY REALIZE THE FULL BENEFIT OF HAVING A THRIVING FOOD SYSTEM.

>> OKAY.

NOW, YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH IN REGARD TO PROCESSING.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

FOOD PROCESSING, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

>> FOOD PROCESSING IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF FOOD THAT IS BEING GROWN.

SO FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE TAKE TOMATOES AND TURN THEM INTO TOMATO SAUCE, THAT´S FOOD PROCESSING.

AND IT´S AS SIMPLE AS SLICING SPINACH, FREEZING IT.

ANY PRODUCT THAT IS NOT IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE HAS BEEN PROCESSED.

AND SO THAT´S KEY TO ADDING LONGER SHELF LIFE TO FOOD.

BUT ALSO TO ADDING HIGHER PRICE POINT AND VALUE TO THAT ITEM, BECAUSE IT INCREASES USABILITY.

WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE CONSUMERS ARE USED TO CONVENIENCE.

NOBODY MAKES HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE.

SO IF WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TURN THAT FOOD INTO THIS STATE IN WHICH THE EXISTING CONSUMERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

AND THE FACT THAT WE KEEP OVERLOOKING THOSE PARTS OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM AS GENUINE ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ABLE TO RAISE, RIGHT?

ABLE TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

THAT IS THE PASSION BEHIND WHY GOOD FOOD IS ADVOCATES FOR FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT.

AND NOT JUST INDUSTRY.

>> OKAY.

CORRECTION, SOME OF US DO MAKE OUR OWN TOMATO SAUCE.

IT´S RARE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MENTIONED THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH FARMERS WITH GROWING FOOD FOR PURCHASE, SUGGESTIONS FOR THAT?

>> ONE OF THE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH FARMERS, WE ARE SEEING A RESURGENCE.

A FARMERS MARKET ON A SATURDAY IS VIBRANT, IT´S FILLED WITH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE NEW THING THAT YOU CAN FIND ON ST. CROIX FROM 5:00 A.M.

IN THE MORNING.

YOU CAN GO OUT, THERE´S ALSO THE SOUTH GATE CORNER MARKET, AND THEN ON WEDNESDAYS, THERE´S A MARKET HAPPENING EVERY DAY AT LORAIN.

ST. THOMAS THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE SATURDAY MARKET THAT HAPPENS IN DOWNTOWN.

SO OUR FARMERS MARKETS ARE BOOMING.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF ROADSIDE STANDS.

AND THEN THERE´S THE PRESENCE OF SOME OF OUR PRODUCER RMT YOU SEE THEM ON FACEBOOK, LIKE RIDGE TO REEF, STAGE OUR FARM, THESE FARMERS HAVE -- THESE PEOPLE HAVE PRESENCE ONLINE.

SO YOU CAN FOLLOW SOME OF THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL.

>> SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VIRTUAL FARMERS MARKET, DO YOU SEE FUTURISTICALLY SOME OF THESE PLACES THAT YOU MENTIONED WILL HAVE A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN CONNECT THROUGH THIS VIRTUAL FARMERS MARKET TO SAMPLE THEIR WARES SO TO SPEAK, OR TO MAKE PURCHASES?

>> YEAH.

THAT´S THE GOAL.

THE GOAL IS HOPEFULLY TO -- EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THESE FARMS HAVE WEBSITES AND A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, IS TO GET THEM INTO THIS PLATFORM SO THEY HAVE MULTIPLE DIRECT MARKETS.

WE DON´T WANT ANYBODY TO LOOK AT THE VIRTUAL FARMERS MARKET AS THE BE ALL, END ALL, WE WANT IT TO BE A PLATFORM TO LAUNCH MORE MARKETS SO FARMERS CAN HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THE EXCHANGE HAPPEN.

>> OKAY.

AGAIN, I´M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PROCESSING PIECE.

THAT´S INTRIGUING, YOU´RE RIGHT, YOU GROW AN ITEM AND IT MAY NEED TO OR WILL NEED TO BE PROCESSED AND THEN PACKAGED.

SO THE PROCESSING ASPECT IS THAT IN PLACE, OR IS THAT SOMETHING UNDER DEVELOPMENT?

>> SO THE PROCESSING ACCESS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

THERE WAS A LEGISLATION THAT PASSED, A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE TERRITORY, I FORGET THE LEGISLATURE, BUT THERE WAS A STUDY THAT PASSED.

THEY USED THE FEASIBILITY STUDY EDA TO GO AFTER FUNDING TO ACTUALLY CREATE A PROCESSING CENTER.

SO I KNOW WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROCESS CUCUMBERS, PLANKTON AND MAYBE LEMON GRASS.

AND THAT´S COMING TO US UNDER E.D.A.

AND MANAGED BY THE ENTERPRISE ZONE.

THERE´S ALSO A CLEAN KITCHEN IN THE PIPELINE, RIGHT?

FARMERS, NOT JUST FARMERS, BUT LOCAL FOODIES CAN ALSO TRANSFER VALUE TO PRODUCTS, DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE WAYS IN WHICH WE MAY PROCESS AND CUREATE FOOD TO MAKE THEM MORE AVAILABLE AND EASILY PACKAGED AND READY FOR EXPORT, IF NEEDED.

>> TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, HAS THERE BEEN MUCH IN THE WAY OF THE EXPORT OF VIRGIN ISLAND PRODUCTS?

>> NO, NOT YET.

NO, NOT YET.

IF I WERE TO HAVE MY WAY ABOUT IT, I THINK WE WOULD SATURATE OUR OPEN MARKETS FIRST.

AND THEN AFTER MARKET SATURATION, SEND OUR EXTRA THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN REGION.

I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BASED ON PALATE, FOOD AVAILABILITY, AND CONSUMER PREFERENCE TO BEGIN TO CREATE CARIBBEAN MARKETS WHERE WHAT WE MAY CONSUME IS VALUABLE AND?

HIGH DEMAND.

ANOTHER THING IS WE HAVE MARKETS ALL OVER -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INTERNATIONAL FARMERS MARKETS ALL OVER THE U.S. THERE´S ONE IN ATLANTA, ONE IN MIAMI, ONE IN D.C.

I SEE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FLAG HANGING IN THOSE MARKETS.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME VIRGIN ISLANDS PRODUCTS IN THOSE MARKETS.

>> AND IT´S PROBABLY AN UNFAIR QUESTION, BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A POSSIBLE SPECIAL CROP THAT THE USVI COULD BE SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCING HERE AND EXPORTING?

>> SO THAT´S FUNNY, BECAUSE I SEE SEVERAL.

I´M GOING TO SAY COCONUTS.

COCONUT OIL, DRIED COCONUT FLAKES.

IF YOU PLANT COCONUT TREES, WE KNOW THEY´RE SUSTAINABLE AND CREATE RAIN BANDS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT COCONUT IS HIGHLY USED BOTH IN MANY COUNTRIES.

IT´S IN MANY DISHES.

COCONUT MILK, COCONUT OIL, IT CAN BE USED IN COOKING, IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY.

IT HAS SOME OF THE LARGEST DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF A PRODUCT TO BE CURATED.

SO YEAH, FARMERS IN ACTION, COCONUTS IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.

>> YOU´RE GOING TO RAISE MY CONSCIOUSNESS.

YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT COCONUT TREES AND RAIN BANDS.

I´M ALL EARS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED EARLIER IS WHEN YOU PLANT A PATCH OF COCONUT TREES, IT ATTRACTS RAIN TRAVELING IN THE DIRECTION.

SO AS WE CONSIDER CLIMATE CHANGE, HAVING PLACES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FORESTED FOR THE ATTRACTION OF RAIN AND WATER IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

SO IF YOU BUILD -- IF WE, RIGHT, WE COULD THEN USE THIS TO DETERMINE LOOKING AT OUR GROUND WATER, LOOKING AT OUR AQUIFER NEEDS TO STRATEGICALLY PLANT THOSE COCONUT TREATS TO REASSESS WATER INTEGRATION INTO OUR AUK WEER IF.

>> INTERESTING.

>> ALL THESE ENTER SECTIONS WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT FOOD WE PLANT.

AGRICULTURE DONE INCORRECTLY IS ONE OF THE MOST HARMFUL THINGS DONE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, PERIOD.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

I WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING VERY BRIEFLY THIS MORNING.

WE REALLY NEED TO RECOGNIZE OUR I WOULDERS, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO REALLY HAD KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THINGS GROW, HOW TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE TRAY AWAY FROM THAT, THAT´S BEEN AN UPTICK WITH RESPECT TO HOW FORESTING HAVE BEEN BURNING, HOW TREES HAVE NOT BEEN REPRODUCING, BECAUSE WE FIGURE STOP IT, SLOW THEM DOWN, TO A DEDETRIMENT, QUITE HONESTLY.

>> WHAT MOST PEOPLE, AND I DON´T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

THE EXISTING AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AS WE KNOW IT HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE BACKS OF THE ENSLAVED AND WITH LANDS STOLEN FROM THE INDIGENOUS, RIGHT?

WE WENT STRAIGHT FROM THE REAL ONSET OF PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE IS ROOTED IN SLAVELY.

WHAT HAPPENED FROM THAT THE WEALTH OF THAT TRANSFERRED FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT, BUT THE PROCESSES DIDN´T CHANGE.

THIS IS AKIN TO SUGAR CANE PRODUCTION.

SO IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE AND HEALTHY AND EMBRACES INCLUSIVITY, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT MONOCROP AGRICULTURE FOR WHAT IT IS, IT´S EXTRACTIVE.

WE´RE GOING TO TAKE ON FOOD SECURITY, WE NEED TO EMBRACE THOSE INDIGENOUS PRACTICES OF FORESTING, OF INTERCROPPING.

WE NEED TO BE ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY.

WE ARE REGENERATING.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU COULD BE A PROFESSOR IN A COURT.

>> I GOOGLE A LOT OF THIS.

>> I MEAN IT AS A FUNNY, BUT I ALSO MEAN IT, THIS IS HOW INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURE IS.

I AM NOT A GENIUS.

THERE ARE MANY BEST PRACTICES AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT THE INFORMATION I´M SHARING IS NO SPECIAL BENEFIT BESIDES THE DESIRE TO KNOW.

PEOPLE CAN GOOGLE IT AND 50 PAGES WILL SHOW UP.

I´M OFTEN DUMB FOUNDED WE ARE IN SOME OF THE SAME PLACES OR THAT I HAVE -- I GET TO SEEM LIKE I´M ON THE UP AND UP, BECAUSE WHAT THIS IS, WE ARE FIVE GENERATIONS BEHIND FROM A NATIONAL CONVERSATION, AND THAT´S DISTURBING TO ME, BECAUSE I DON´T WANT US TO MISS OUR WINDOW TO -- IF WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN ALIVE, TO MOVE AROUND WITH THE NATION IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FOOD SYSTEMS AND MAKING THEM HYPER LOCAL AND SUPPORTING SMALL FARMERS, NOT JUST BIG BUSINESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO?

WHAT CAN INDIVIDUALS DO TO SUPPORT THE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR TODAY?

>> THE FIRST THING INDIVIDUALS CAN DO IS SWITCH THEIR FOOD.

WHEN YOU BUY LOCAL, YOU´RE NOT BUYING LOCAL TO SUPPORT A FARMER.

THAT IS A SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITY.

THAT´S AN ANCILLARY ONE.

THAT´S AN ADD-ON.

WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS YOU´RE BUYING HEALTH.

YOU´RE BUYING FOOD THAT IS RIPENED CLOSER TO ITS GROWTH DATE, THAT HAS HIGHER NUTRIENT DENSITY THAT IS GOING TO BE BETTER FOR YOUR BODY.

INVESTING IN LOCAL FOOD IS INVESTING IN HERITAGE.

WHEN YOU BUY IT PORTED CUCUMBER, IT WILL LAST FOR THREE DAYS.

THE PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD IS, HELP OUT A FARMER.

NO, HELP OUT YOURSELF.

GIVE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY THE GIFT OF HEALTH.

SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOUR DOLLARS MATTER.

EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND LOCALLY CIRCULATES IN THIS ECONOMY SEVEN TIMES.

SHOWING ELECTED OFFICIALS WE DO VOTE FOOD, THAT THE POWER OF OUR VOTE IS IN WHERE WE CHOOSE TO SPEND OUR DOLLARS AND WE CHOOSE TO SPEND LOCALLY.

WE CHOOSE TO SPEND IT WITH OURSELVES.

SO FOR ME, TO REALLY ADVOCATE FOR HOUSEHOLDS TO SHIFT AND GIVE YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHILDREN THE GIFT OF THE POWER OF HOW YOU SPEND YOUR RESOURCES AND THE HEALTH THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN YOUR BODY.

>> I HEAR YOU!

TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION.

YOU´RE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE LOCATED?

DO YOU HAVE A BOARD?

HOW IS IT STRUCTURED?

>> IT IS A NONPROFIT.

I DO HAVE A BOARD.

WE HAVE LOCAL NONPROFITS, THAT´S BEEN A GOAL.

I HAVE A NINE-PERSON BOARD OF DYNAMIC PEOPLE.

AND IT´S FUNNY, BECAUSE THEY´RE ALL BASICALLY FIRST-TIME BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR IMPURPITUITY.

WE HAVE FOUR AMAZING PEOPLE THAT REALLY HELP -- ARE HELPING ME NAVIGATE HOW TO TAKE THIS PROJECT THAT I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT AND BIRTH IT INTO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HOPEFULLY OUTLASTS ALL OF US.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW, DOING AN AWESOME JOB OF HELPING US BUILD AWARENESS AND CURATE THE RIGHT DONORS WHO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE AND WANT TO GIVE THEIR MONEY TO IT.

WE HAVE AN OPERATIONS PERSON WHO IS TAKING MY CHAOS AND ALL THIS GOOGLE KNOWLEDGE AND PUTTING IT INTO ORDER, SO IT´S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN TRACK.

AND THEN WE HAVE A PROGRAM OF PEOPLE THAT BASICALLY WORK WITH FARMERS AND SHE´S A PRODUCER HERSELF.

WE ARE A WOMEN-LED ORGANIZATION.

THERE ARE MALES ON THE BOARD, BUT IN THE TEAM, AND THEN WE HAVE A DYNAMIC WRITER, A PERSON WHO IS JUST TRACKING ALL OF THE WRITING HAPPENING AND CURATING.

SO EACH THOUGH WE´VE BEEN AROUND FOR TEN YEARS, WE´RE YOUNG IN THESE STRUCTURES.

SO WE HOPE TO SHARE MORE ABOUT WHO WE ARE, AND WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

HOPEFULLY THEY SEE THEMSELVES IN THIS WORK, BECAUSE THAT´S OUR GOAL.

>> IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, HOW WOULD THEY DO THAT?

>> WE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT IS BEING IMPROVED.

IT´S NOT THE EASIEST TO NAVIGATE, BUT IT´S GOODFOOD.VI.ORG.

AND THEN WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, VIRGIN ISLAND GOOD FOOD COALITION.

AND YOU CAN ALWAYS HARASS ME.

MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS 340-643-4831.

AND FOR PEOPLE WHO OFTEN DON´T REMEMBER ANY OF THAT, WHEN I TELL THEM THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL DO THAT.

THEY ACTUALLY CONNECT US THROUGH THAT, BECAUSE THEY ARE WELL ESTABLISHED AND IT´S AN EASY WAY TO AFFILIATE AND FIND US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND SEEING "ABLE TO RAISE."

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, BE SAFE.

BYE-BYE.

♫ ♫