Over the weekend, the Bordeaux Vegan Food Fair invited locals and visitors to embrace the revival of agriculture on Saturday and Sunday, with recognition of the Farmer of the Year, Crowie “Wailer” Francis.
Executive Director of Habesha Inc., Cashawn Myers, gave a presentation explaining the cultural significance of agriculture in daily life. The event also featured Bamboula dancers, who told stories through dance and conch shells, along with other local presenters advocating for the importance of agriculture.
“The Bordeaux Fair happens at the beginning of the year so farmers can showcase what they are growing and educate attendees about Virgin Islands history, while continuing the farming culture. After the fair, farmers have a jump start to prepare for the rest of the year,” said Abeba Selassie, a member of We Grow Food Inc.
The fair takes six months to prepare, from fundraising to gathering vendors and farmers to display their year-round produce. “Everything in life plays a part in agriculture, from food to materials and products we buy. It all comes back to farming and the people who grow and manufacture them. Agriculture is life, and Rastafarianism represents life,” Selassie said.
The event began at 10 a.m. on Saturday and ran until 9 p.m. that night, continuing from 10 a.m. Sunday until midnight. The fair welcomed vendors from across the Virgin Islands, including St. John and St. Croix. Julian Veira, a St. Croix vendor, has attended the fair every year with his handmade shoes and bags. He emphasized that agriculture is about more than just fresh food.
“The theme of this year’s fair is ‘Reviving Agriculture,’ and I believe more people should get involved and encourage the government to invest in agriculture. It’s essential to the Virgin Islands and our society. Agriculture gives us the opportunity to create whatever we want, and we’re inviting everyone to come out and experience this with us while thanking farmers for keeping it alive for 26 years,” Veira said.
Each year, the fair encourages individuals to make healthier choices by tasting the fresh food grown by local farmers and supporting island vegan spots. Produce is grown organically on the farms in Bordeaux.
“Everything I grow is natural. I encourage people to plant. I don’t have to worry about going to the store for produce. I just go into my backyard and pick kale, spinach, peppers, and the seasonings I grow. In stores, you’re often unsure where the produce comes from or how it’s grown. My message is: ‘Be organic,’” said Bordeaux farmer Karanja James.
