USDA Regional Food Business Center
Islands & Remote Areas
Connecting the people who grow, build, and sustain our food future.
Virgin Islands Good Food is honored to serve as the lead for the Caribbean Region of the Islands & Remote Areas Regional Food Business Center, a USDA-supported initiative designed to strengthen farms and food businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and neighboring islands.
Click here to visit the main Regional Food Business Center website for our Islands & Remote Areas region.
Gathered Data & Assessments
Virgin Islands Good Food, as part of the USDA Regional Food Business Center for the USVI and Puerto Rico, conducted farm site visits, hosted farmer information sessions across all three islands, and engaged more than 165 farmers, producers, and partner agencies. This work built a foundation of critical data and insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping our food system. Together with our Island & Remote Areas RFBC partners, we have published the reports below to highlight where resources are most needed and where opportunities for growth exist.
Take the Survey: Help Us Build the TA Network
Through this work, we are building a Technical Assistance (TA) Network – a database of the individuals and organizations that provide support to food producers, agribusinesses, and food system leaders across our region.
We are currently inviting technical assistance providers to complete a short survey that will help us:
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Identify available services and areas of expertise
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Map capacity and coverage across the region
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Build a shared resource database for partners and communities
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Strengthen coordination, referrals, and collaboration
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Note: You’ll have the option to keep your information private if you prefer not to be publicly listed.)
If you provide technical assistance to food or farm businesses in the Caribbean, we want to hear from you!
Who Should Participate?
We welcome individuals, organizations, agencies, and firms that offer technical support in areas such as:
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Organic & Regenerative Farming
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Agriculture & Agribusiness
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Soil, Pest, and Water Management
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Climate Resilience & Disaster Recovery
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Food Safety, Processing & Cold Storage
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Logistics, Transportation, & Distribution
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Business Planning & Financial Literacy
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Agritourism & Community-Based Projects
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E-commerce & Market Development
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Cooperative Models & Legal Support
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Youth Training & Workforce Development
Whether you serve one island or several, whether you work independently or through an institution – your experience matters.
Partner With Us
If your organization maintains internal lists of technical assistance providers, we would love to connect. We’re seeking partners who can:
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Share relevant TA provider lists or directories
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Connect us with other networks or regional contacts
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Help amplify this outreach by sharing the survey
Contact Ellenor Paul-O’Neil at ellenor@goodfoodvi.org to collaborate or share resources.
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Why This Matters
Caribbean food systems are rooted in resilience, creativity, and care. This network is one step toward recognizing and resourcing the people already doing the work – and ensuring support flows where it’s needed most.
Thank you for helping us grow a more connected, more responsive support system across the USVI and Caribbean.