Project
Feed Our Villages, Feed Our Future
Originally published by the Pacific Region TTA Center on www.anapacific.org.
The Farm to Table Guam-Corp’s Feed our Villages, Feed our Future program will provide specialized training and mentorship to both new and experienced farmers who wish to diversify their production towards leafy greens. Currently, Guam imports 90% of its foods and the unemployment rate of Guam is 3-5% higher on average than the unemployment rate of the continental United States. The leafy green class of crops was selected for its potential to supply restaurants and institutions year ’round, and for its nutritional value and staple role in the household diet. The rate of speed to harvest is quick, thereby providing ample, scalable training opportunities in a shorter timeframe than a longer harvesting crop. This project will serve Native Chamorro farmers and the people of Guam by offering specialized trainings in new growing techniques. It will also provide 60 career pathways in the agricultural sector for farmers participating in the farm training program. As a result, the project will ensure the knowledge and resources are accessible to Chamarro farmers to build a sustainable farm business, supporting the livelihoods of their families.