Hurricane Recovery Update

Hurricane recovery work moves forward every day! Ricky Liquet-Gonzalez, Puerto Rico Project Manager for Ridge to Reefs, and the team have been working hard to restore access to small farms impacted by the hurricane.

Power continues to be an issue in many parts of the island, but that isn't slowing the team down!

Ricky says, "I'll run out of clean clothes before energy and will to continue!"

Image: Ray Mesh

Re-opening farm access continues to be the first priority, and progress is being made with another farm each day. The team has made incredible progress with chainsaws and manual labor! For at least several farms, we can confirm we will need heavy equipment rental to clear their access roads.

Farmers report losses of crops, including cassava, Jamaica flower, okra, and corn. Fruit trees in their 5th and 6th years after planting were destroyed. Soursops, star apples, sugar apples, and avocado trees washed away, and banana harvests were destroyed. Once access is restored, farmers can begin the hard work of replanting. In the case of some of these fruit trees, a half a decade clock begins again. Donate today to support purchase of seeds and trees to replace lost crops!

Four images below: Ray Mesh