Tropical Fruit Festivals

Tropical fruits, including pineapples, feature in several festivals in the U.S.

The most commonly known tropical fruits are pineapples, bananas and mangoes, but there are a large variety of fruits that are lesser known and not easily available because their origin stems from hot countries outside the U.S. mainland. Tropical fruit festivals present and display the universally known varieties and give less popular fruits a chance for a wider audience.

Mangomania, Pine Island, Florida

Mangomania is an annual tropical fruit fair and a family event arranged by the local chamber of commerce. Pine Island is located a 30-minute drive from Ft. Myers and is one of the largest islands off Florida's Southwest coast. The festival is usually held at the end of July and offers mango and tropical fruit displays, cooking competitions, educational talks, kids' activities and sale of tropical trees. Tickets in 2011 cost $6 with concessions for pre-sales; children under 10 years of age go free.

Redland Summer Fruit Festival, Miami, Florida

The Redland Fruit and Spice Park in Miami grows more than 500 varieties of tropical fruits, herbs, spices, vegetables, and nuts from around the world and hosts an annual fruit event, usually during June. The Redland Summer Fruit Festival showcases local agriculture and tropical fruit plants and invites growers to present wines and smoothies, foods, and rare tropical fruit samplings. Workshops about cultivation, propagation and grafting operations are usually also on the agenda, together with cookery contests and tastings. Admission in 2011 costs $8, children under 11 go free.

Festival of Fruit

The California Rare Fruit Growers' annual fruit fair is held at various locations in the U.S., depending upon which chapter will host the event. The festival features exotic and tropical fruits and is mainly aimed at professional growers and fruit tree sellers by offering classes, workshops and tours. Each year a different fruit produce will be focused on. Fruit of the year in 2010 was the pitahaya, while 2011 focuses on the pomegranate. Dates for the events vary, but are usually in autumn and winter. The registration fee for participation in 2011 amounts to $35.

Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

This one-day event is usually held at the end of June or beginning of July in the Botanical Gardens in St. Croix. The Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival is a family event and represents a celebration of tropical fruit grown on the island. The event features sampling and tasting varieties of tropical fruit, workshops, demonstrations, contests and sales stalls from tropical fruit tree vendors. The highlight of the festival is the mango eating contest, with both adult and children's categories.

References

• Mangomania: Home Page
• Friends of the Fruit & Spice Park: Special Events 2011
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Home Page
• St. George Village Botanical Gardens: Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival

Resources

• Soul of Miami: Redland Summer Fruit Festival At Fruit and Spice Park 2010
• University of the Virgin Islands: From the Ground