The St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair is set for Saturday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 18, on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts on University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus.

The Fair will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. both days. Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr., UVI President LaVerne E. Ragster, and UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service (CES) State Director Kwame Garcia, Sr., have been invited to the opening ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

This year’s theme is “Make Agriculture Our Haven for 2007.” Carlos Robles, vice-president for the St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture Fair Committee, encourages the entire Virgin Islands community to attend the two-day event. “It’s a non-stressful family event with the opportunity to see new things,” said Robles, who is also the acting CES district supervisor. It offers people the opportunity to “change their diets, improve their yards, or just support local agriculture,” he said. As food is a focal point, a variety of food will be available, from heavy meat to vegetarian dishes, Robles added. The islands’ cooks are challenged to enter their maubi drinks, sweetbreads and ital dishes for competition. Cash prizes and ribbons will go to the top three entries.

A variety of local plants - suitable for gardening and landscaping - will also be offered for sale. There will be a petting zoo with sheep, goat, pigs and a ferret, along with other domestic animals. Buggy rides and horseback riding will also be available.

Members of the community who suspect a pest problem on their plants can bring a sample of the damaged plant in a sealed plastic bag and representatives from Fintrac, Inc. and the University will give a diagnosis.

The St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and UVI, with assistance from Fintrac, Inc. and with the support of the West Indian Company.

Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children under 12. For more information, contact the UVI Cooperative Extension Service at 693-1080 or the St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture Fair Committee at 774-5186.