Plans are being finalised to host the much anticipated Mango Array and Tropical Fruit Festival on July 14.

Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer and event coordinator, Mrs. AronaFahie-Forbes said that this year the event will feature two major competitions: the Mango Tart and Passion fruit Jam contests.

Mrs. Forbes said, “The festival had grown in attractiveness and community participation is at its peak. It is truly representative of what Virgin Islanders can do when we come together to highlight our cultural practices.”

Mrs. Forbes said the mango tart would be judged in the categories of flavour, creativity, originality, presentation and labelling, while the passion fruit jam will be judged on flavour, consistency, colour, container or presentation, and labelling.

She added that all producers and interested persons should explore creativity in the use of the two fruits, besides the competition categories, for the purpose of sale and display at the festival.

The festival will be held at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park.The event is in its sixth year and is expected to be both educational and entertaining for patrons.

Additionally, crop producers and business owners will get an opportunity to showcase their produce, arts and crafts, food and merchandise made from parts of the mango and other tropical fruit trees.

Other activities planned include a mango eating competition, children games, face painting, bobbing for mangoes, along with a propagation session which includes air layering and grafting.

Persons interested in participating in the various competitions and or being vendors in the festival are asked to contact the Department of Agriculture at 468-6123.

The fifth annual Mango Array and Tropical Fruit Festival serves to promote the cultivation, caring, maintenance and continued use of traditional fruits such as mangoes in the Virgin Islands. It also aims to unite producers, supermarkets, proprietors and the community to create a sense of identity and an overall greater appreciation for the tastes and varieties of local fruits.