In a milestone move aimed at bolstering food security and agricultural innovation in the Virgin Islands, the University of the Virgin Islands has formally assumed stewardship of the Island Fresh Aquaponics facility at the historic Bethlehem Sugar Factory site on St. Croix, according to a release issued on June 9. The transfer, from Jacksonville-based nonprofit FreshMinistries to UVI, was commemorated during a ceremony held on June 3.
UVI President Dr. Safiya George was joined by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and the Rev. Dr. Robert Vernon Lee, Executive Director of FreshMinistries, to mark the transition—one that speaks to UVI's continued role as a land-grant institution devoted to advancing research, education, and sustainability across the Caribbean.
"The University of the Virgin Islands is honored to carry forward the transformative vision set in motion by FreshMinistries," said George. "The Island Fresh Aquaponics facility represents not only a model of sustainability, but also a tremendous opportunity to expand hands-on education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in agriculture."
The Island Fresh initiative was launched in 2021 by FreshMinistries as a catalyst for food production, wellness, and economic opportunity on St. Croix. Now one of the largest aquaponics operations in the region, the site features three 6,000-square-foot greenhouses and three 3,000-square-foot greenhouses, purpose-built to support large-scale sustainable farming.
Read more at The Virgin Islands Consortium