Prominent Farmer and Advocate for Territory’s Sustainable Food Production to Lend his Expertise to the Nonprofit

St. John, USVI – November 18, 2025 – Island Green Living Association proudly announces the election of a new board member: Dr. Nate Olive, Farmer and Director of Ridge to Reef Farm (R2R) in St. Croix, the only certified organic farm in the territory. Olive is also president and co-founder of the Virgin Islands Farmers Alliance (VIFA), which through strength in numbers, helps farmers coordinate resources, advance research and education, and pursue grants to improve production, logistics, and market opportunities. He brings a wealth of knowledge regarding food security and environmental issues in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The selection underscores Island Green’s dedication to improving sustainable food sovereignty in the territory.

“Nate has been at the forefront when it comes to advancing the tenets of organic farming and pushing to reverse food import dependency in the territory, which stands currently at 97%,” said Harith Wickrema, Island Green Living President. “He also shares a commitment to expanding sustainability overall in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a fellow member of the Virgin Islands Food & Farm Council, his commitment and expertise are unparalleled.”

Olive, who holds a Ph.D. in Forestry & Natural Resources from the University of Georgia, is a staunch supporter of organic, ecologically regenerative, and culturally appropriate agricultural practices and is determined to see the territory’s farmers eliminate harmful chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. To that end, he is the USDA’s “Transition to Organic Partnership” program coordinator for the region. One of the projects closest to his heart is the territory’s Farm to School program, expanding the provision of fresh food from local farms for public school lunch. To date, 30 local small farms, in addition to R2R, participate. Additionally, R2R’s 80+ person Farm Share program delivers local produce territory-wide on a weekly basis.

Along with running R2R and leading the VIFA, he is a Principal Investigator for Producer Grant Programs for SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education). He also serves as board member and treasurer for the Virgin Islands Conservation District. He is an honorary board member on the Local Food and Farm Council, charged with implementing the territory’s Agricultural Plan, and served as Farmer Representative on the Agricultural Plan Task Force as well.

Other Island Green board members include Harith Wickrema (president), Dawn Henry (vice president), Curtis Penn (Treasurer), Akhil Deshwal (Secretary), Trey Goldsmith (Executive Committee), Donald Schnell, Rob Crane, Jim Dobrowolski, Dr. Greg Guannel, and Dr. David Hall.

Island Green Living advocates for sustainability throughout the territory, including recycling, protecting the environment and expanding food security while supporting the community’s health and economic security. To date Island Green has recycled nearly 5 million aluminum cans and 65.5 metric tons of ocean-bound plastic. The Resource Depot reuse store has kept more than one million pounds of used building/construction materials, furniture and home goods, clothing, etc. from our overburdened landfills while extending the life cycle of this valuable material. Advocacy efforts have protected coral and marine life from toxic sunscreen, “Banned the Burn,” lead to bans on plastic bags and straws, expanded greening education, clean energy, and so much more.

Established in 2004, Island Green Living Association is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization on St. John dedicated to sustainability throughout the USVI. For more information: www.islandgreenliving.org.