The produce for sale at the Agrifest’s Aberra Bulbulla farmer’s market Sunday was a feast for the eyes, soon to be turned into a healthy feast on local dining room tables.
On display were piles of red ripe tomatoes, bright orange pumpkins, dark green cucumbers, shiny purple eggplants and much more.
The theme for Agrifest 2010 is Healthy Food and a Safe Environment Makes Sense. A large portion of the healthy, local food was grown by the Farmer’s Market Produce Grand Champions – the Virgin Islands Farmer’s Cooperative.
“We are so excited this is the first harvest from our land in Grange,” said Yvette Browne, V.I. Farmers Cooperative vice president. Browne said last year the organization took second place. “This shows we are growing and getting better.”
Browne added the sales at the booth were wonderful.
“I always buy food and plants here at the fair,” resident Tom Williamson said while carrying a coconut tree. “Buying quality local food is important to me to help support the local farmers.”
It was evident why Dorcas Griffin’s Nursery in Whim was chosen first place and Grand Champion in the Farmer’s Market Commercial Horticulture division. She had tables full of gorgeous flowers, ornamentals and fruit trees. She was selling ferns, lady slippers, orchids, cactus, African violets, begonias and much more. Griffin, who has been growing flowers for 26 years and showing at the fair for the past 23, said she is very happy to be chosen grand champion.
“I love plants so much it doesn’t seem like work to grow them,” Griffin said. “I just want the plants to look good and grow.”
Nevis, St. Kitts, and Puerto Rico also had booths with vegetables, herbs and island spices.
Sharing half the pavilion with the farmers were the school children with 20 booths following this years theme.
The Lew Muckle Elementary School’s display of healthy food choices, natural products used in the garden and pictures of the school garden took first place in the Educational Exhibits Elementary Division.
Taking first place in the Educational Exhibit Jr. High Division was John H. Woodson Jr. High 
School. The students under the direction of Roberto James, agriculture teacher, built and displayed two-foot by two-foot “Healthy Habits” wooden boxes. The gaily painted boxes were filled with healthy looking cabbage, peppers, tomatoes and herbs. The boxes were also available for purchase.
“I buy vegetables and plants every year,” resident Tammy Banks said. “This year I bought some non-acid little pear tomatoes that were delicious.”
Banks said she will probably go back Monday to buy flowering plants.
The fair wraps up at 6 p.m. Monday.
