While the scent of local food and the vibrant colours of fresh produce will soon fill the Road Town Festival Grounds, the heart of this year’s Agriculture and Fisheries Exhibition and Market lies in a profound act of gratitude. 

As the Territory prepares for the 2026 event, the Government of The Virgin Islands is shifting the focus toward the individuals behind the harvest, ensuring that the legacy of local farmers and fishers is given the national prestige it deserves.

“Under the theme: ‘Farming the Land, Fishing the Seas, Nourishing Lives and Legacies,’ this weekend’s celebration serves as a powerful reminder that food security is a collective territorial effort,” stated Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt Igwe. 

In a significant move toward unity, the 2026 honours will recognise primary producers not just from Tortola, but from the sister islands of Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke, highlighting the vital contributions made by every corner of the Virgin Islands community.

The opening ceremony for this year’s Agriculture and Fisheries Exhibition and Market will be held on Friday, 10th April, at 4p.m. at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. The ceremony will feature a harvest procession, musical entertainment, official remarks, and games.

“A vibrant harvest procession will lead the way and there will be a special video presentation showcasing various aspects of agriculture and fisheries in the Virgin Islands,” Mrs. Stoutt Igwe announced. 

The pinnacle of the evening will be the formal recognition of industry leaders across seven distinct categories. These awards include Livestock Producer Award; Food Producer Award; Agri-Tech Innovator Award; Community Farming Hero Award; Community Fishing Hero Award; Lifetime Achievement Award (Fishers); and Fisheries Entrepreneurship Award. 

According to the Permanent Secretary, the aim is to celebrate both the youth injecting new energy into the field and the more seasoned farmers and fishers who have dedicated their lives to the sea and the soil. She said by honouring these "Community Heroes," the Government seeks to elevate the status of food production from a mere trade to a celebrated pillar of Virgin Islands culture.

The public is invited to the Road Town Festival Grounds during the weekend of 11th-12th April to witness the excellence of these and other producers firsthand through livestock displays and crop exhibits. The grounds will also play host to the Territory’s competitive spirit, with local food enthusiasts battling in the goat soup, pumpkin punch, and ital stew competitions. Patrons will also get the opportunity to compete in the Strong Man and Strong Woman Competition, Greased Pig Competition, Tug of War, among many others.

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The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is mandated to promote and regulate the agricultural and fisheries sectors to ensure that food produced and harvested within the Territory is safe, nutritious, and sustainably produced, while protecting the natural environment, enhancing economic growth, and improving the social well-being of Virgin Islanders.