Prosperity Farm challenges licensing ruling while public operations remain closed

Virgin Islands regulators halted Prosperity Farm's bar, food-service and event operations on Saturday after identifying missing health and Fire/EMS approvals and activities outside the scope of the property's commercial farming license, according to the Health Department and Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs officials interviewed by the Virgin Islands Consortium.

The enforcement action is narrower than a closure of the entire agricultural operation. DLCA says the commercial farming license remains active, and neither agency told the Consortium that farming or the production and distillation of spirits had been ordered to stop.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion confirmed that the venue lacked a health permit and said inspectors identified additional health-code problems that were not detailed publicly. DLCA Commissioner Nathalie Hodge said the farm's existing license does not cover operating a bar, serving alcohol or hosting the public events regulators observed.

The venue and territorial agencies have disagreed for years over how agricultural-processing and agritourism laws apply to the property. That broader licensing and zoning dispute is unresolved; the immediate closure concerns the public-facing bar, food and event activity.

Prosperity Farms and RaisingCane have now petitioned Superior Court to review DLCA's administrative licensing decision. They allege the agency treated a preliminary hearing, scheduled on four business days' notice, as a final adjudication without adequate opportunity to prepare witnesses, exhibits or briefing. Those claims are the businesses' allegations and have not yet been resolved by the court.

The court filing challenges DLCA's process and licensing determination; it does not itself overturn the Health Department shutdown, restore missing permits or authorize the venue to reopen. DLCA and other territorial agencies will have an opportunity to respond.

No reopening date has been announced. Before planning a visit or event, customers and vendors should confirm the venue's current operating status directly and watch for dated notices from Health, DLCA or Prosperity Farm.