"A Taste of Jamaica"- Community Fundraiser Announced to Support Farmers Rebuilding After Hurricane Melissa

St. Petersburg, FL – Seeds to Feed Jamaica, in partnership with 15th Street Farm and ECHO Global Farms, announces a community fundraising dinner on Thursday, April 2, at 6:00 PM at 15th Street Farm in St. Petersburg.

The event will raise urgently needed funds to help Jamaican farmers recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, which stripped thousands of acres of farmland and left entire communities struggling to replant and rebuild.

Six months after the storm, many farmers are still standing in fields that were once lush and productive but are now dry, cracked, and bare.

With roughly 80,000 acres of Jamaica’s farmland dedicated to vegetable production, the need for seeds and support is immediate. Even a small contribution goes a long way: $10 in seeds can yield more than $100 worth of food, directly strengthening food security and local livelihoods.

“Farmers are ready to work,” said organizers from Seeds to Feed Jamaica. “What they need now are seeds and the resources to restart their fields. This event brings our community together to help make that possible.”

The April 2nd dinner will feature authentic Jamaican cuisine, a local art auction of original works by internationally recognized St. Pete artist Steven Ramsey, and an evening dedicated to standing with the Jamaican farming communities who are working tirelessly to restore their land.

Funds raised will support seed purchases and the distribution of practical, locally adapted farming knowledge through the project’s partnership with ECHO Global Farms, a global agricultural research center based in North Fort Myers.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: 15th Street Farm, St. Petersburg, FL

Tickets: $100 per person

Includes: Jamaican dinner, guided farm tour, community gathering, art auction, and support for seed distribution and farmer resilience

Reservation & Donation Links:

Dinner Reservation: tinyurl.com/3urz76fh
Donate to Seeds to Feed Jamaica: tinyurl.com/5yfe5whr

About Seeds to Feed Jamaica:

Seeds to Feed Jamaica is a community-driven initiative supporting Jamaican farmers through seed access, agricultural training, and long-term resilience building. The program connects local and global partners to strengthen food security and empower farming communities.

About 15th Street Farm:

15th Street Farm is an urban food hub in St. Petersburg focused on education, food access, and regenerative agriculture. The farm serves as a community anchor for hands-on learning and sustainable growing practices.

About ECHO Global Farms:

ECHO is a global agricultural research and training organization based in North Fort Myers, providing innovative, low-cost farming solutions to communities around the world.

Media Contact:

Gay-Marcine Richards – 727-455-8083 – jacangmsmith@gmail.com
Norman Hoyes – 727-285-2772 – nhoyes@gmail.com