Virgin Islanders Learn to Graft Julie Mango Trees

Elridge Thomas, instructor of the “Julie Mango in Every Yard Program,” which is offered by the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, met with 15 students Saturday to teach them how to graft mango trees.

Thomas developed the program because “97 percent of food has to be imported to St. Thomas.” He called this an injustice, saying that with its ideal climate, this island should be growing year-round. Thomas has been a farmer on St. Thomas for over twenty years while working thirteen years for the Agriculture Department. In his opinion, in order to be free from the dependency on imported food, this community needs the politicians to understand the importance of agriculture. Snapping his finger on his green thumb, he said, “You can pass a bill, but if you don’t fund it — poof — nothing happens.”

One of the requirements for the program is to be a landowner and have the space to plant at least one mango tree. The students actively participated in the grafting process as he instructed them not to touch the grafting area. Your hands can contaminate the exposed area of the tree. “Cut so it’s not too deep and not too shallow. Wrap the branches with tape, overlapping so that no water gets in. Hold it tight and line it up,” Thomas said.