It’s no secret that St. Croix is far from the U.S. mainland. It is 1,263 miles to the nearest state of Florida. So getting fresh produce shipped in from the states is not an ideal situation. It is costly, and fruits / veggies go bad faster after the extended shipping process. These are just two of the reasons so many islanders go out of their way to shop outside the mainstream grocery stores.
The clean eating movement is in full-effect here, as it fits nicely with the lifestyle and priorities of many Crucians. To follow are a few of the alternative options for fresh food.
This impressive farm is located on St. Croix’s west end in the rain forest. They produce organic vegetables, fruits and livestock. Through their Community Supported Agriculture program, people on all three U.S. Virgin Islands can purchase a 3/4 bushel box of whatever is ripe each week (subscriptions are by season). Ridge to Reef sends out an e-newsletter each week identifying each fruit / veggie and includes recipe ideas.
The farm also provides eco-lodging and workshops to teach what they practice. Another of its community outreach events are Slow Down Donation Dinners. An impressive meal of five or more courses is created by a guest chef. Attendees do not pay a set price, but donate as they are able and feel is appropriate. Everything served at the meal is fresh from the farm. Guests bring their own wine, etc. and can expect to dine for several hours in a beautiful, open-air setting.
Art Farm is located on St. Croix’s south shore. They produce fresh vegetables / fruits and house a small art gallery. They host farm-to-table dinners and private events.
Quality has been distributing to island restaurants and resorts since the 1970s. In recent years, they have added a market which is open to the public. They sell organic food at wholesale prices and work directly with local farmers.
Farmer’s Markets / Farm Stands
The most major Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturday mornings at Le Reine (mid-island). Others are scattered across island, as shown on this map.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/6oKeARjm020
Ready to cut the distance between farms and your table? St. Croix’s tropical weather allows many crops to flourish year-round.
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