UVI, Dept. of Agriculture To Host Breadfruit Seminar Next Week

The University of the Virgin Islands’ Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station, in partnership with the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, will host a Breadfruit Seminar from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13, and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, UVI made known via press release on Friday.

The seminar will be video-conferenced on both days between Evans Center Room 401 on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and Teacher Education room 101 on the St. Thomas Campus.

Dr. Tusi Avegalio, Bob Gough, Dr. Jeff Gwirtz, and Craig Elevitch, researches from the University of Hawaii, will make presentations on a breadfruit project they are conducting in the Pacific Islands.

During the first day of the seminar, activities designed for agriculture professionals and farmers will be held, including a series of presentations ranging from production to managing and processing breadfruit. The general public is invited to a presentation titled “Agroforestry, Biology and Research Aspects of the Breadfruit” on July 14.

“These workshops will offer a unique opportunity for VI producers and scientists to share research-based information regarding one of our popular food crops – the breadfruit,” Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., district supervisor of the St. Thomas/ St. John District – assistant director of CES said. “It is my hope that the planned activities will stimulate a renewed interest in local research, outreach and production of breadfruit in the territory.”

“I want to encourage the agriculture community and anyone who grows breadfruit to attend this educational seminar,” said Carlos Robles, commissioner nominee for the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture. “It promises to be a very enlightening experience for those who can attend.”

“This Breadfruit Seminar is free of charge, so come out and receive useful information about this very popular and healthy fruit,” Robles said.

For more information contact UVI Professor Stafford Crossman at (340) 692-4071 or [email protected].

Feature Image: Breadfruits, via Huffington Post.