@article{Crossman:253810,
      recid = {253810},
      author = {Crossman, Stafford and Browne, Dale and Zimmerman, Thomas  W. and Chichester, Errol and Kowalski, Jaqueline and  Browne, Yvette and Boateng, Kofi and Keuularts, Jozef and  Lakos, Sue},
      title = {OPERATION BREADBASKET: A U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMUNITY  OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM},
      address = {2011},
      number = {535-2016-38512},
      pages = {10},
      year = {2011},
      abstract = {Operation Breadbasket was a program of the Virgin Islands  Farmers Cooperative (VIFC).The primary goal of this program  was to reverse the 45-year decline of agricultural  production in the U.S. Virgin Islands by reducing the risk  of farming through training and community outreach. The  technical staff of the University of the Virgin Islands  (UVI) Cooperative Extension Service, UVI Agricultural  Experiment Station, UVI Small Business Development Center,  Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Virgin  Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue partnered with the VIFC  to conduct risk management training in vegetable crop and  small livestock production, farm business development and  income tax preparation. The nature of the training was  hands-on, onsite; practical applications, instructions and  demonstrations for the purpose of having the producer  reduce risk, and utilize improved sustainable production  methods. Training was conducted on various farms on the  island of St. Croix. On each of the farms an assessment was  conducted to evaluate and strengthen the producer's  knowledge of their farm operations and the utilization of  emerging technologies and practices. The program used seven  crops (watermelon, tomato, eggplant, okra, cucumber, bell  pepper and cantaloupe), small livestock production (sheep,  goats and pigs), improved forage management, farm business  planning, recordkeeping and tax preparation to provide the  participants with the tools needed to successfully manage  an efficient farming enterprise. The training was intended  to help transition limited resource, socially disadvantaged  farmers into productive and profitable farmers through the  creation of new farming enterprises and the increased  availability of high-quality, locally-grown food. The  program provided practical training in farm management,  financial management, marketing, production, crop insurance  and other risk management tools to educate U.S. Virgin  Islands farmers on how to increase their production and  income. The program trained producers in various methods of  sustainable farming to reduce risks and increase crop,  livestock and forage production. The program sought to use  the agriculture training as a means to: create a social and  economic stimulus while improving the image of farming to  attract and develop new farmers. The anticipated outcome is  an improvement in our local food system, food security, and  overall quality of life in the territory.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/253810},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.253810},
}