From terraced backyards to ancestral orchards, career farmers to schoolchildren, farmers across the territory have been hosting judges from the Department of Agriculture in preparation for Farmers’ Week, which begins Feb. 10.

“We’re out every day in this,” said Arona Fahie-Forbes, deputy chief agriculture officer, as she climbed the steep terraces of one Carrot Bay backyard farm.

Ms. Fahie-Forbes was joined by a volunteer crop judge — Milton Creque — and one Department of Agriculture officer – Wesley Brathwaite — to examine the entries in West End and Carrot Bay Monday morning.

Armed with clipboards and pencils, the judges talked with the farmers as they looked at banana trees, pineapple plants, eggplants, cabbage and other crops.

 

See the Feb. 2, 2012 edition for full coverage.