ST. CROIX — During a press conference held at the UVI Research Center on the St. Croix campus, the Agriculture and Food Fair Board of Directors, which governs the annual Agricultural Fair, announced the new dates for the 2018 event as May 26-28, which is also the Memorial Day weekend.
The announcement will please ardent fans of the yearly, three-day affair, who were disappointed when D.O.A. said the 2018 event would be canceled this year.
Here are the key takeaways:
- Agrifest will take place during the Memorial Day weekend (May 26-28, 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., except on Monday, when the gates open at 12 noon in honor of Memorial Day)
- A flat rate of $4 will be charged this year
- There are some concerns about rooms to accommodate visitors
- Almost all vendor booths that line the pathway between the east and west sides of the grounds were destroyed. The board said it’s currently considering its options, including allowing vendors to bring their own tents this year.
- Most farmers that the board asked about a new date, agreed that the Memorial Day weekend would work best for them.
- D.O.A. Commissioner Carlos Robles apologized for stating that the event was canceled, and said that it was always the board’s intention to host the event at a later date this year.
- Mr. Robles said the estimated damage to the Shulterbrandt Agricultural Complex in Estate Lower Love is $15 million.
- The board has sent out letters to participating Caribbean islands and some responded positively.
- The board is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s event (contact Denise Lewis at 340-690-8327. To sponsor the fair, call D.O.A. at 340-423-9823
- This year’s theme is “V.I. Agriculture Strong: Rebound, Rebuild, Regrow”
- Overall, the Agrifest board is expecting a curtailed event this year.
Tags: agrifest 2018
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
