St. John, U.S.V.I. – The office of the St. John Administrator in conjunction with the VI Department of Agriculture and Women Infant and Children (WIC) Program is happy to introduce the “St. John’s Farmers’ Market Day” slated for November 17, 2016 and November 23, 2016 at the Frank Powell Park near the pier. These events will provide a venue to facilitate a market place for the St. John community including WIC recipients to access fresh local produce.
The WIC-FMNP provided WIC recipients between $30-$120 worth of coupons to buy fresh, local produce directly from authorized farmers. To date, the WIC- FMNP program has over $20,000 remaining to spend, and there are some 600 WIC Coupons that value approximately $3,000 on St. John; these funds need to be used by November 30, 2016, or the remaining funds will go back to the grantor as unused. Therefore, the Departments of Agriculture and Health along with the Office of the St. John Administrator has collaborated efforts to ensure that the St. John WIC recipients have access to fresh local fruit and vegetables. For this reason, the Office of the St. John Administrator and VI Departments of Agriculture and Health encourages all the WIC recipients that have not used their FMNP coupons to come out and purchase fresh produce and at the same time support your local farmers.
Additionally, Market Coordinators are seeking more farmers. All local farmers are invited to participate in the market as vendors. Farmers will enjoy the benefits of selling directly to over 500 consumers on these market days as well as networking with other farmers. The market will have a variety of old and new vendors, local produce, crafts, goodies, workshops, music, fresh bush tea and coffee and a fantastic feeling of community for the whole family.
For farmer or vendor inquiries, you may contact Ms. Pam Richardson, Farmers’ Market Coordinator at 340-514-2597. General inquiries may be directed to Joy Elliott at 340-778-0997, or Sherry-Ann Francis at 340-776-6484.
