Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

'To get healthy food we have to buy local'- Lloyd Williams

- but said it takes more to produce locally, which would make local food more expensive
Food Production Manager Lloyd Williams has defended the high cost of locally produced food in the Virgin Islands as compared to imported foods. Photo:Facebook
World Food Day will be observed on October 17, 2025, under the theme 'Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future'. Photo: Internet Source
World Food Day will be observed on October 17, 2025, under the theme 'Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future'. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The Food Production Manager at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Lloyd Williams, has defended the high cost of locally produced food in the Virgin Islands when compared to imported food.

In a GIS report for World Food Day on Friday, October 3, 2025, Williams stated, "the mere fact that it is fresh, healthy. It takes a lot more to get it produced locally."

He explained that the soil texture and hilly terrain across the Virgin Islands make it more challenging for farmers to cultivate food. "And so, they have to use a lot more different types of methods to bring out the quality of products that they're looking for," he added.

When comparing local and imported foods, Williams remarked, "We get inferior food from overseas, and so the cost is down, but to get the healthy, we have to buy local."

World Food Day

His comments were made ahead of World Food Day, which will be observed on October 17, 2025, under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”

Williams emphasised that this year’s theme highlights the importance of collaboration among departments. 

"Hand in hand, meaning the department, meaning consumers, farmers, fishers, working together to produce the best food now, for a few generations to come, and so that we can live longer, and enjoy the benefit from local, fresh produce."

He also mentioned that activities planned for this year's observance of World Food Day include a market day and a food fair, set to take place at Noel Lloyd's Positive Action Movement, starting at 10:oo AM on October 17, 2025.

17 Responses to “'To get healthy food we have to buy local'- Lloyd Williams”

  • asking for a friend (06/10/2025, 15:31) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the food?
  • bvibuzz (06/10/2025, 16:09) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    local when they are no inspection regime for God sake take a seat
    • The Usurper (07/10/2025, 09:06) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      So you say import food? I can imagine how stupid and unattractive you look.
      • Poli.Farmer (08/10/2025, 09:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Where we going get the locally grown food from when this government refuses to invest in local production? Just don’t roil me up please
  • smh (06/10/2025, 17:09) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some of our farmers are using the same pesticides making our local food supply just as unhealthy. Local products aren't healthy just because they are grown locally, they must be grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides.
  • Stealth (06/10/2025, 17:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    On the surface, it is reasonable to assume that locally produced food on average should be cheaper. Nonetheless, it is not necessarily so. It is for the most part driven by production cost, ie, the cost per unit. It is hard for small local businesses to compete with large multinational corporations (MNC), eg, Chichita bananas, etc., Chichita process is highly mechanized over large acreage with economy of scale and scope advantages, producing bananas at pennies per pound. Nevertheless, though the local producers cost may be higher than external producers, they are in competition with the external producers, so their prices need to be as competitive and as reasonable as possible.

    Moreover, local producers may have an advantage in the quality of production,,ie, fresh, organic, perhaps safer, etc. Further, imported food though cheaper are laden with high fat, sodium, sugar, calories, etc. Additionally, buying local creates a multiplier effect in the economy ,creating and sustaining employment, supporting local businesses.
  • october surprise (06/10/2025, 17:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    get ready folks For farmers starting to plant
  • smh (06/10/2025, 19:31) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    You all keep saying buy local don’t think the two local vendor on street can supply the entire bvi seems like some you all don’t come out house see what’s going on in the public why don’t import good from the Caribbean which is grown without chemicals
    • ??? (07/10/2025, 08:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Can we have proof that all the products coming in from other Caribbean countries are grown without chemicals. See comments like these are why it is so darn difficult for agricultural progress in the Virgin Islands. The people are veing discouraged from supporting their own locals in order to support others. People are free to spend and buy where they freaking choose to without some discouraging bs.
  • Concerned (06/10/2025, 21:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I only by local from farmers I know well that do not use pesticides or gramazone. Lots of farmers here use pesticides and all kinds of chemicals.
  • Profit Boyz (06/10/2025, 22:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The same local that makine 500% profits and giving us 2% discounts? Lmfaooo if they could sell a defect product and still make triple profits with no reproductions I believe they would
  • Stop the slaughter now (06/10/2025, 22:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The wild goats that are being slaughtered on Peter Island and left to rot could be donated to the abattoir/farm at Pariquita Bay for local meat consumption.
  • X Trench Run (07/10/2025, 05:01) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    strict quality control measures are needed to ensure that food is not only fresh but also safe for consumers.
  • island man (07/10/2025, 06:23) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Boy Lloyd keep yourself outta dat , stay fishing , You see these people interested in farming ?
    This is a cosmetic community!
  • Farner (07/10/2025, 08:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    A local backyard farmer was pleasing for a trade license and it fell on deaf ears. Farmers can’t get water. The list is long but we rather go to Guyana and Mingo to boost their economy and ignore ours. Speak about that and imported from the Caribbean is the same as here and better.
  • Local defender (07/10/2025, 13:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happen to the government tractor that's been sitting up paraquita bay for some time now. Thats a new tractor why is it down for so long farmers cant get the land plow
  • head basketball (23/12/2025, 04:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a thoughtful and informative piece that clearly explains the value of locally produced food while highlighting the long-term benefits of supporting farmers, sustainability, and food security in the Virgin Islands.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.