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Virgin Island Fertilizer Essay

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St. Croix’s Complicated Potential for Sustainable Island Agriculture
History and culture as obstacles to a sustainable local food economy.
Located in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Croix has a sub-tropical island climate and is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Island(USVI) territories with the greatest percentage of arable land. Little seasonal temperature variability, low humidity, and a year-round growing season has historically offered the island significant advantages for agricultural development and production. Even with seasonal rainfall and periods of drought, the island is extremely capable of supporting a wide array of tropical fruits. These include coconuts, mangos, papayas, guavas, passion fruits, soursop, mamey apples, sugar apples, …show more content…

Croix’s dangerously tourism dependent economy, and lessen the islanders’ reliance on expensive food importation. Despite these immediate local health and economic benefits, as well as having constant access to valuable resources, information, and services provided by the University of the US Virgin Islands’ Cooperative Extension Service, Agricultural Experiment Station, the USVI Department of Agriculture, and the USVI Economic Development Authority, many Crucians and main-landers remain reluctant to take advantage of the countless opportunities to produce fresh local food. But, …show more content…

Croix and the other U.S. Virgin Islands, but it is undoubtedly hard, dirty, tiresome work that often fails to reap the appreciation and acknowledgement it truly deserves. Though it can be a profitable and rewarding venture, it remains truly a labor intensive practice that requires a highly motivated, consistent, and environmentally sensitive workforce. Many of the most prized jobs on the islands are now working for businesses outside of agriculture, such as hotels, inns, resorts, eco-tourism adventure enterprises, and food service industries. Those fortunate enough to make it to the university often end up leaving to seek superior career or job growth opportunities available to them only on the

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