The 2025 Annual Agrifest from February 15-17, 2025 offered great food, music, plants, animals and fun! There are many activities for the entire family. As the V.I. Daily News reported, the fair also showcased Crucian culture, tradition and lively entertainment that engaged residents and visitors from all walks of life. The the Guardians of Culture mocko jumbies, led by instructor Zayd Saleem, entertained the crowd with their vibrant performances. Many took the opportunity to get their photos taken with the masked stilt walkers. The final day of entertainment featured an impressive lineup including Big Kyat Sounds, I-Land Boyz Pan Experience, La Vuerza VZ, Black Empire, Kurt Schindler and Unlimited Sounds featuring DJ Felix.
The fair also featured a replica of a historic Crucian home originally designed by former teacher Janice Pemberton-Tutein about 20 years ago. Deputy Commissioner for Agriculture Riise Richards, along with Marjorie Hampson and Joyce Schuster, spoke about the home’s significance in educating young generations on the island’s history. Read the full article from the V. I. Daily News here.
On St. Croix, breadfruit is something very familiar to us. We see beautiful breadfruit trees on island, and breadfruit used in restaurant menus, snacks, and cocktails. We love breadfruit and all of its uses. According to a recent Forbes article, “With its immense potential for food resilience and security, breadfruit or Artocarpus altilis is being celebrated as a staple crop with the opportunity to boost global climate smart sustainable development.” This article highlights examples of how breadfruit is being used in products and menus (such as in an episode of the National Geographic series, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted). St. Croix’s Mutiny Island Vodka which is made of a combination of breadfruit and Caribbean rainwater is also featured. Read the full article here.
Nutritionally, breadfruit is an energy-rich food and a good source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Here on St. Croix, USVI, it is an ingredient common in West Indian and Latin cuisine. It has potato-like consistency when cooked, and a good source for gluten-free and vegetarian recipes.
According to The National Tropical Botanical Garden, breadfruit is an important component in traditional agroforestry systems and can be grown with a wide range of plants. Trees begin to bear fruit in three to five years, producing for many decades. The trees require little attention or care, producing an abundance of food with minimal input of labor or materials, and thrive under a wide range of ecological conditions. The ethnobotanist Diane Ragone from the NTBG said in a NPR interview, “compared to other food staples, these fast-growing perennial trees require far less labor, fertilizer and pesticides than crops like rice and wheat. They’re also more productive. A single tree yields an average of 250 fruits a year and can feed a family for generations.
For some ways to use breadfruit in your meals, take a look at the Cruzan Foodie’s blog article about how she uses breadfruit!
Jump Up Deli and Dem Tings is a classic deli and gift boutique with a Caribbean twist. Find classic deli sandwiches, traditional meats, cheeses, soups and salads at this unique bistro tucked away in the courtyard of Apothecary Hall on Company Street. Owners Ellen Ross and Todd Kirkpatrick both moved to St. Croix in 2017 before hurricanes Irma and Maria. Through a shared love of football and supporting one another during the catastrophic storms, they fell in love. The connection they witnessed and felt during the rebuilding of the island solidified their desire to become part of the downtown Christiansted community by providing a fun place for families and kids to eat, laugh, and shop.
Todd is an accomplished chef who dreamed of one day opening a New York style deli featuring sliced meats and cheeses, fresh salads, soups, and sides. Ellen brought her talent in sales and marketing that expanded during her time at Procter and Gamble offering all “Dem Tings” you didn’t know you needed. There is something for everyone at this unique St. Croix gift boutique, from tadpole tings for kids, mermaid tings for women, pirate tings for men, and furry friend tings for pets. “It’s a crazy little store, and we have fun with the selections we offer,” said Ellen. She boasted that they have the best selection of toys and treats for all kinds of pets, including dog and cat wines. “You can alter your attitude and your animal’s attitude at Dem Tings!”
Jump Up Deli and Dem Tings opened in December 2022, and they knew they found the perfect location in the former Café Christine location in Apothecary Hall. The deli menu items are named after notable island landmarks and locations, like the ever-popular hot sandwiches named The Christiansted and The Blue Mountain. They offer gluten-free and vegetarian options as well. This family friendly café makes waiting a pleasant pastime with fun games on the porch tables and a pirate chest with free toys for the kids. “We want to make sure kids can have fun along with the adults.” Customers visiting the deli also get to snap a picture of them jumping up in the space. The tradition started when a guest said their order made them jump up with joy; since then, every new customer gets their picture taken mid-jump when they jump for joy with their orders.
Each Art Thursday, they host “Arf Thursday” where St. Croix Animal Welfare Center sets up a petting area with their loveable pets to encourage adoption and donations to the organization. Beautiful artwork from their artists-in-residence, Pat Alfrey and Emelyn Morris-Sayre, are also on display for purchase and viewing during the event.
Jump Up Deli and Dem Tings is opened Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. The store opens at 10am; the grill opens at 11am. You can find them in downtown Christiansted at 6 Company Street in the historic Apothecary Hall courtyard across from LEVELS VI. Check out their menu and see more of “dem tings” they offer by visiting their website at www.jumpupdeli.com. For takeout orders, call 340.712.0002.
The 27th annual Mango Melee Tropical Fruit and Mango Festival was held in at the St. George Village Botanical Garden in St Croix on July 9, 2023. This popular family-friendly event offers kids activities, educational workshops, food competitions, tropical fruit demonstrations and tastings, and the ever-popular Mango Eating Contests. Visitors enjoy local food and drinks, arts and craft vendors, cultural dance performances, Moko Jumbies, music and more throughout the day. As the VI Consortium reported, Yasmine Tuitt, 14, defended her title and emerged as the winner of the Mango Eating Competition for the second consecutive year at the 27th annual Mango Melee. 9-year-old Anita Thomas won the Mango Eating Competition in the children category. Congratulations!
Many local vendors also had tables selling mango and tropical fruit delicacies and products. It is a great annual event that brings the community together!
The St. Croix Source has some great photos, check it out here.
