Image: courtesy
Farming in the Caribbean island By Cindy Eman
“Eating local” has become a popular
depend on outside food resources
dining ethos over the last decade, but
even in the best times. Just off the
in some locations, it’s not as simple
coast of South America, Curaçao
as it sounds. Islands in the Caribbean
is one of the former Dutch Antilles
in particular have struggled with
and imports most of its dairy and
sustainability due to a multitude of
meat produce. In 2020, there was an
factors, including inhospitable farming
embargo between Venezuela and
conditions, the increasingly extreme
the islands. You could immediately tell
effects of climate change and
a shift in the supermarkets’ produce.
damage from tropical storms.
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In March of the same year, the island
Living on a small island state in the
was under total lockdown due to
Caribbean and a semi-arid one, we
the pandemic. With almost no flights