A report for the Islands and Remote Areas RFBC Program

The US Caribbean subregion of the now-terminated Islands and Remote Areas Regional Food Business Center—comprising Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands— continues building resilient food systems despite centuries of colonial disruption and  import dependence. Both places enjoy tropical climates enabling year-round food cultivation and harbor vibrant communities of small-scale producers, backyard growers, and emerging food entrepreneurs committed to strengthening local agriculture and food sovereignty. That said, challenges abound.

Processing infrastructure is limited but expanding through innovative food businesses and entrepreneurs. These efforts show how processing capacity can connect producers to new markets and reduce economic leakage from the islands. Aggregation networks are strengthening as organizations and emerging food hubs successfully source from multiple producers and serve diverse market channels. Farmers markets, mercados familiares, and community-based initiatives create direct-to-consumer pathways that honor both food access and producer sustainability.

In this subregion, traditional knowledge and contemporary innovation are converging. Urban farming, hydroponic systems, agroecological practices, and community gardens demonstrate how producers are adapting to local conditions while connecting new generations to agriculture. School gardens and mentorship programs cultivate the next generation of food system leaders.

Despite the USDA terminating the RFBC program, the US Caribbean subregion can accelerate this momentum by providing targeted TA on business planning and grant writing, supporting value-added processing through equipment and infrastructure investment, developing cooperative aggregation models, and expanding access to flexible, patient capital for farm and food businesses. By building on existing producer networks, cultural food traditions, and emerging entrepreneurship, the Caribbean can create more self-sufficient, equitable food systems that sustain both economic vitality and community resilience.

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