Dept. Of Agriculture Seeking Farmers To Participate In ‘Farm To Hospital’ Program

The Department of Agriculture has announced that it’s seeking to recruit a total of 13 farmers, six in each district and one applicant in St. John, to participate in the Farm to Hospital (FTH) Program.

According to the release, the program will provide selected applicants with technical assistance and training on best planting practices, crop variety selection, irrigation and post-harvest-techniques. D.O.A. said it has secured federal funding from the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) FY 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant, to establish the program to operate in conjunction with the Harvest of the Month initiative in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The selected farmers will function in concert to grow fruit/vegetable crops which will be presented on the hospital’s lunch menu as the Harvest of the Month in both island districts, according to the release.

All individuals interested in participating in this program may request an application via email: [email protected] or pick one up from the V.I. Department of Agriculture in either district. Selected applicants must possess the following minimum requirements:

• Adequate water supply
• Farmer’s License
• Health Card
• Land (proprietorship of property is not mandatory; however, if the property belongs to another party, then express permission from land owner must be granted)

According to the release, the Farm to Hospital – Harvest of the Month Program seeks to establish a formal supply chain relationship between hospitals and farms in which both parties benefit. Hospitals benefit by upholding the common mission of many hospitals to: 1) promote healthy living, 2) provide a model from which patients may learn, and 3) foster a healthy food environment. Farmers benefit because FTH programs create an alternative marketing channel for their products, the release said.

The deadline to submit applications to the V.I. Department of Agriculture – Marketing Division is 4:59 p.m. October 12, 2018. Applications may be submitted electronically to [email protected].

All questions regarding this opportunity should be sent to the above email address.