ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, July 16th, 2012 – Residents and visitors filled the Noel Llyod Positive Action Movement Park on July 13, to enjoy locally grown fruits at the third Mango Array and Tropical Fruit Festival.
Treats such as smoothies, tarts, pies, bread, juices, stews, jams and jellies all made from local fruits including the focus of this year’s festival, the queen of the crop, the mango.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Permanent Secretary Mr. Ronald Smith-Berkeley speaking at the mango festival opening ceremony on behalf of Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering said, “As we see, smell and taste everything that is tropical today, let us join together and make a pledge to eat more fruits and plant more fruit trees on our lands as fruits provide some of the most essential nutrients to the human body.”
He continued to explain that, “Fruit trees add beauty to any landscape and in order to flourish, fruit trees require consistent care and proper maintenance as it is said that under the right conditions and with the tender loving care, a tree can produce fruit for up to 50 years.”
Mr. Berkeley further expressed that mangoes like other fruits have become an added flavour in our restaurants, mentioning that there is mango salsa for fish or chicken; mango tamarind pepper sauce used to flavour stew beef or steak. There is stewed mango which we put on ice cream. I now see restaurants selling mango ice cream, mango smoothie and mango daiquiri.
During the ceremony the winners for the mango festival poetry competitions were announced and awarded prizes. First place in the adult category went to Velma D. Chung, second Dian Jeffers, third Corina Corea; teen category first place went to Anath Blyden and second Jeaneah Chinnery; and for the children category first place was awarded to Davaughn Hodge, second Stephanie Walters and third Hazanie Scott.
Additionally the winners for the Mango Punch Competition, first place went to Denese Thompson and second place was awarded to Eileen Baronville.
The day featured a display of local fruits available at this time of the year, a mango eating competition for children, quizzes, games, face painting, bobbing for mangoes, along with a propagation session which includes air layering, budding, and grafting of fruit trees.
The Mango Array and Tropical Fruit Festival serves to promote the cultivation, caring and maintenance of traditional fruits such as mangoes in the Virgin Islands while aiming to unite producers’, supermarkets, proprietors and the community in one to create a sense of identity and an overall greater appreciation for the tastes and varieties of local fruits.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
British Virgin Islands News