USVI gets its first droponic trailer freight farm

FREDERIKSTED — The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Sustainability and Agricultural Education (SAE) Division is excited to announce the arrival and installation of the territory’s first-ever hydroponic trailer freight farm, proudly housed at Eulalie R. Rivera PreK-8 School on St. Croix.

This state-of-the-art freight farm made possible through Act 8404, Sustainability and Agricultural Education represents a historic advancement in agricultural innovation for the Virgin Islands. The fully self-contained, climate-controlled trailer can grow the equivalent of 2.5 acres of produce in a compact, soil-free environment using hydroponic technology.

“This isn’t just a farm; it’s a classroom on wheels. Our students across the Territory now have a powerful, hands-on opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture, food security, and eco-friendly practices that will shape the future of our islands,” said Cydney Meadows, Territorial Director of SAE.

The hydroponic trailer farm is available for all USVI students, serving as a learning hub that integrates STEM, environmental stewardship, and agricultural education. This initiative underscores the Department’s commitment to building a more resilient and food-secure Virgin Islands by investing in the next generation of sustainability leaders.

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SOURCE: Verticle Farm Daily

John F. McCarthy is a veteran journalist in the Caribbean, writing from the "Decision Space" where survival meets the surreal. His reporting steel was tempered by a lineage of legendary editors and broadcasters, including Ed Wynn Brant (The Bomb), Owen Eschenroder (Ann Arbor News), Lynelle Emanuel (BVI Beacon), and Charles Thanas (WSVI-TV). Alongside longtime colleague Kenneth C. "Casey" Clark, McCarthy has navigated the front lines of the territory’s history—from the 1997 volcanic "snow" to every major hurricane since Hugo. Known for leaning out of doorless helicopters to capture the "money shot," McCarthy now edits the V.I. Free Press, providing the essential link between the island's colonial past and its SpaceX future.