On Friday, October 12, the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service (CES) begins its World Food Day observance with a “Hunger Banquet” from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Great Hall on the University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. This event is open to 4th through 9th graders, representatives from the Department of Education, and other community leaders. The Hunger Banquet is made possible through the generous support of Rotary Club of St. Croix Mid-Isle. These groups will join us in this unique event and experience the challenges of poverty and world hunger.
The activities continue from noon until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14 on the grounds of the University’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. While admission is free, attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the day's food drive. All food collected will be donated to local food banks. World Food Day, officially celebrated on October 16 but is observed worldwide during the month of October and brings attention to the plight of the hungry and undernourished in the Territory and the world. This year’s World Food Day theme, selected by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is “Our Actions are our Future. A #Zero hunger world by 2030 is possible”.
On Sunday, October 14, the activities will include a formal opening ceremony, food vendors court, farmers market, workshops, demonstrations, entertainment, and free vegetable seedlings. Each year, three agricultural products are highlighted and this year’s selections are sweet potato, passion fruit, and tilapia. We are also having a World Food Day 4-H Youth “Super Chef” demonstration, conducted by the 4-H Clover Café Group. Come and support these young aspiring chefs as they display their culinary skills. And that’s not all! There will be an open Passion Fruit “Blast” Competition for the public. Come out and wow the judges with your best desserts, preserves, and drink recipes. You don’t want to miss this family fun event – World Food Day, Sunday, October 14.
Stafford Crossman, Acting State Director of the Cooperative Extension Service stated, “World Food Day is a time when we assess food production, distribution, and nutritional value. We hope that you will join us as we all commit to doing something to help end world hunger. Come out and participate in this occasion as we promote awareness and action to feed the less fortunate people in the territory.”
World Food Day is sponsored by UVI Cooperative Extension Service, UVI Agricultural Experiment Station and V.I. Department of Agriculture.
For more information, contact Marthious Clavier at (340) 692-4090.