Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley’s family will never be the same.
Almost two years after the death of their daughter Savannah Chrisley’s ex-fiancé Nic Kerdiles, the Chrisley Knows Best alums are…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories
‘Da Culcha Table’ Conference Empowers V.I. Farmers with Critical Policy Insights and Cooperative Strategies
A new addition to the annual Bush Cook Chef Cook event, a three-day agricultural conference was held Oct. 13-15 at the University of the Virgin Islands Great Hall on the St. Croix Albert A. Sheen Campus.
Themed “Da Culcha Table,” the conference was organized by Sejah Farm to eliminate the financial and logistical barriers that often prevent local farmers from attending off-island conferences. The goal was to bring experts, policymakers, and agricultural networks to the Virgin Islands so that more farmers could benefit from valuable information and connections.
Organizers sparked interest among farmers and the wider community in two main areas — cooperative development and agricultural policy awareness. Drawing on more than a decade of national networking, presenters and panelists delivered focused sessions addressing both topics, emphasizing their importance to the growth of the Virgin Islands’ agricultural industry.
Keynote Speakers and Presentations
Sen. Marise James opened the conference with a welcoming message to attendees, followed by remarks from Virgin Islands Agriculture Department Deputy Commissioner Billy Abraham on behalf of Commissioner Louis E. Petersen Jr., who later participated in a panel discussion.
Following an update from Policy Center representative Eloris Speight, attorneys Conisha T. Brumfield and Alicia N. Netterville of the National Policy Research Center led a session on County Committees, revealing that many farmers were unaware of the committees’ existence or their local representatives. Sejah Farm plans to collaborate with COC members to increase engagement and awareness.
A presentation by Thaddeus Dawson focused on community empowerment through property ownership and generational wealth, while Darrel K. Tennie educated farmers on agricultural taxes, business structures, and compliance.
Leo Perez, a St. John farmer, expressed his enthusiasm after the session. “I’m so excited and inspired. Just seeing something so small, so productive, and the outcome not just being about generating income but how much information was disseminated. It gives me hope,” he said.
Panel Discussion and Key Takeaways
A highlight of the conference was a panel discussion moderated by DaraMonifah Cooper and organized by Yvette Browne. The panel featured farmers, policymakers, and agricultural support professionals who discussed strategies for strengthening local food systems.
Panelists emphasized the importance of encouraging residents to grow food at home, bringing youth to farmers’ markets, and fostering a “buy local, eat local” culture. “We have to be able to assure the community that our local product is better than the imported,” said Dale Browne, co-owner of Sejah Farm.
Other suggestions included improved communication among farmers, better data sharing, and marketing strategies to strengthen local branding. Petersen highlighted the Agriculture Department’s ongoing radio program and branding campaign to promote locally grown produce.
Panelists also identified value-added opportunities such as processing, packaging, and branding products like teas, mangos, and livestock goods ranging from jerky to leather. Petersen noted that about 60 percent of livestock is wasted due to the lack of processing facilities and announced plans to establish value-added kitchens in both districts.
Funding, Infrastructure, and Youth Engagement
Brennan Washington, Southeastern Outreach coordinator for the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, encouraged farmers to pursue more federal funding opportunities, noting that many miss out due to limited grant-writing experience.
Sejah Farm has received a CDBG grant for a three-phase infrastructure development project. “Marketing and scaling up postharvest handling is vital,” said Browne. “The Department cannot do everything in the current legislation.”
He brought up the example of 10 million dollars that “appeared to be sitting since 2018 and the commissioner was not even informed that the money was available from the American Rescue Fund.” Petersen has since sought after that, but the panelists agreed that the issue is how soon those funds can be drawn down on.
“If (Petersen) was informed that the money was there, there would not have a been an issue with keeping the abattoir open. The department would have also been able to scale up manpower and services. Until that money is drawn down, the worst-case scenario with 1.5 years remaining … If he doesn’t get the access within that time, how does that make him look?” said Browne.
When asked about youth involvement, Petersen said young Virgin Islanders have not seen examples of a thriving agricultural industry. “I can think of at least seven young Virgin Islanders who have been assisted and encouraged to go to school and not one of them have come home,” he said, noting the need to make agriculture more profitable and appealing.
Visiting farmer Ben Burkett of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives added, “Young people that grow up on the farm don’t want to farm, but those from northern states often want to intern on farms. With certain crops and markets, you can make a good living.”
Calls to Action
Panelist Neville James suggested revisiting the 1995 Resort and Casino Consumer Control Act to allocate a portion of casino revenues to agricultural funding.
Conference attendees agreed on the need for greater education, collaboration, and advocacy, emphasizing that empowering farmers could significantly reduce the territory’s 97% food import rate. Petersen referenced Puerto Rico’s 100-year history of cooperative work as a model for the Virgin Islands. “There is no way we can move forward without working cooperatively,” he said.
The conference concluded with a tour of the UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, where Andrea Rios and her team demonstrated heat-stress research and humane livestock handling. Derris Burnett of Tuskegee University later conducted a USDA-certified goat preparation demonstration at Sejah Farm.
Community Response
Attendees described the conference as timely, informative, and inspiring. The Brownes expressed gratitude for the panel’s success, noting that the collaboration between local farmers, policymakers, and national representatives fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose.
To stay informed about Sejah Farm’s agricultural initiatives and future events, follow Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands on Facebook.