July 2, 2008 – Tropical fruit lovers from around the Virgin Islands will converge on the grounds of the St. George Village Botanical Garden from noon until 6:30 p.m., on Sunday, July 6, for the 12th annual Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival. There will be a $100 prize for the adult winner of the Mango-Eating Contest this year. The prize for kids 12-and-under winner will walk away $50 richer.
St. Croix's most popular summer festival draws thousands of residents and visitors to the botanical garden's 16-acre property.
The many varieties of mangoes and other featured fruits will be on display in the Great Hall all day; at the end of the day, piles of tropical fruits will be offered to the public by silent auction, thus ensuring none goes to waste.
Workshops on mango production and this year's featured fruits – the Annona family, which includes soursop, sugar apple, cherimoya, custard apple and many others – will be offered in the Pavilion at the Bodine Visitors' Center. There will be samples of juices made from local fruits to taste.
Mango Dis, Mango Dat is a food competition that is open to all cooks, whether professional or amateur. Entries must feature mangoes as the main ingredient and will be judged on best use of the fruit, taste, creativity and presentation.
A fruit identification contest will test participants' ability to recognize a fruit by its smell alone.
There will be dozens of vendors of food, local drinks and crafts, and local farmers will have their crops for sale as well. Free hour-long guided tours of the grounds will be offered at 1, 2 and 3 p.m., and the Garden's nursery will be open from noon to 4 p.m. The Museum Store at the Visitors' Center will be open from noon until 5 p.m.
The grand finale of the event is the popular electric slide, which will be held close to the farmers' area, followed by the silent auction of the fruits.
For more information, call the garden at 692-2874.
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