Dr. Nate Olive is Farmer and Director of Ridge to Reef Farm (R2R) in St. Croix, the only certified organic farm in the territory. He 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.
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.
Olive is also a Principal Investigator for Producer Grant Programs for SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education). He serves as board member and treasurer for the Virgin Islands Conservation District and 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.