The Bahamas
WCK responded to the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 with our #ChefsForBahamas emergency effort. Over the course of the next seven months, our Chef Relief Team cooked and served more than 4 million meals to residents of Abaco, Grand Bahama, and families who sought refuge in shelters in Nassau.As in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María, we made a long-term commitment to strengthening local food systems in The Bahamas through the Food Producer Network. Our goal is to support the farmers, fishers, and food-related small businesses of Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, and New Providence to help them rebuild their operations and get back to their pre-Dorian production levels – and surpass them.
FPN in The Bahamas by the numbers
Invested
Grants Distributed
C&T Fishing
Tanique Brutus
Tanique Brutus grew up in a fishing family and by the age of 8 already knew how to free dive and spearfish. Today, she is a Certified PADI DiveMaster and a licensed boat captain and her business C&T Fishing has become a steady source of food and income. With WCK’s support Tanique was able to improve her boat -including by adding a new 150-horsepower engine- which was badly damaged during Hurricane Dorian.
Coral Vita
Sam Teicher & Gator Halpern
Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern started Coral Vita, a for-profit model for large-scale reef restoration, launching the world’s first commercial land-based coral farm in Freeport. Coral Vita’s has developed innovative techniques to accelerate coral growth and help to enhance their resilience to warming and acidifying oceans. With their WCK grant they purchased a heat pump system, a heat exchange system, and a UVC filter that will increase efficiency.
Duncanson Farms
Bert Duncanson
Bert Duncanson is known throughout The Bahamas for his expertise in local farming and agriculture education and is considered a pioneer in these areas. His personal mantra, “He who controls your food, controls you,” drives his commitment to sharing his knowledge with the community. With his grant, Bert purchased an egg washer, refrigerated containers, and a generator to diversify his product line and expand his market across the Caribbean.
