Business

2018 Agricultural Fair Cancelled, Dept. Of Agriculture Confirms

ST. CROIX -- Department of Agriculture (D.O.A.) Commissioner Carlos Robles has confirmed that due to the damage wrought to the Agriculture Fair grounds in Estate Lower Love, the 2018 Agriculture Fair will not take place. The confirmation, expected by many, represents a blow to the St. Croix economy and D.O.A., which relied on the fair as a reliable source of annual income. But aside from the damage and the safety concerns at the fair grounds, St. Croix's agriculture industry, already at its lowest point according to Dale Browne, co-founder of Sejah Farms, would not be able to grow enough produce in time for the February event, as local farms saw almost complete devastation following Hurricane Maria. Mr. Browne, whom The Consortium spoke with last week for an upcoming story on the territory's agriculture industry, said his farm, which he and his wife, Yvette Browne founded over 20 years ago, saw catastrophic damage and will need to be rebuilt from the ground up. The farm'...