The Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) promoted healthier eating, home food production and support for local agriculture as a major partner of Ital Purity Fest 2026.
Held on Saturday, 22 August 2026, at the entrance to the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, the festival brought food, agriculture, wellness, art and music together under the theme ‘Black Is Beautiful’. The celebration highlighted Afro-Caribbean culture and identity while encouraging healthier, locally grounded lifestyles.
This was the second consecutive year that ZHTF served as a major partner. The festival showcased vegetarian and vegan dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, demonstrating how nutritious food can support personal well-being while strengthening the local food system.
At ZHTF’s information booth, patrons learned about the organisation’s programmes and its work to strengthen food and nutrition security in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Visitors also received seed packages and branded memorabilia, giving them practical resources and information to take home.
Director/CEO of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, Safiya Horne-Bique, said the continued partnership reflected ZHTF’s commitment to connecting food security with health, culture and community development.
“ZHTF was pleased to support Ital Fest for the second consecutive year. Events like this encourage people to think more carefully about what they eat, where their food comes from and how their choices can improve their health, strengthen communities and support the local economy,” Horne-Bique said.
“The festival also gave us an opportunity to celebrate Afro-Caribbean culture while promoting local food and healthier lifestyles. These priorities are central to ZHTF’s work to strengthen food security, improve nutrition and encourage more people to participate in local food production,” she added.
Beyond the festival, ZHTF advances backyard gardening, youth engagement in agriculture, nutrition support and food security education. These programmes encourage individuals and families to grow food, make informed dietary choices and recognise agriculture as an important contributor to national development.
The seed giveaway made home food production more accessible and encouraged households to start or expand backyard gardens. The seeds came from a May 2026 donation to ZHTF by Dwight ‘Bongo’ Anderson, Founder and Executive Director of the Canada-based Still Kickin’ Charity. By sharing some of the donated seeds at Ital Purity Fest 2026, ZHTF gave patrons a practical way to strengthen household food security through home production.
The festival’s focus on locally sourced food highlighted the value of supporting farmers, food producers and others across the local food system. Choosing more locally grown food can support healthier diets, create economic opportunities and reduce dependence on imports. The vegetarian and vegan dishes also showed patrons creative ways to prepare local produce and include more fruits, vegetables, herbs and other plant-based foods in their diets.
The festival’s Afro-Caribbean-influenced art and music complemented its focus on food and wellness. Together, these elements gave patrons an opportunity to celebrate their heritage, support local creativity and reflect on the connections among culture, food, health and community well-being.
Through its partnership and participation, ZHTF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting community initiatives that promote healthy eating, sustainable food practices, local agriculture and greater public awareness of food and nutrition security.
The Zero Hunger Trust Fund thanks everyone who visited its information booth and participated in the seed and memorabilia giveaways. ZHTF encourages the public to support local farmers, grow food at home where possible and choose more healthy, locally produced foods – small actions that can help strengthen household and national food security.
To learn more about ZHTF’s programmes and opportunities to support food and nutrition security, follow the organisation’s official website www.zerohungersvg.com and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn).
