The folks at the St. George Botanical Garden want residents to come out this coming Sunday to meet some royalty, like Palmer, Keitt, Haden, Tommy Atkins, and Edward.
Famous people? No, just a few representatives of what is often called the Queen of Fruits — mangoes.
The juicy fruit will be celebrated in all its splendid varieties at the third annual Mango Melee on July 18 at the Botanical Garden. Co-produced by the UVI Cooperative Extension, the Department of Agriculture and the Botanical Garden, mangoes will be extolled, lectured about, tasted and demonstrated at the day-long event.
According to the Botanical Garden's Phyllis Charles, the Cooperative Extension Service is interested in promoting commercial mango production on St. Croix, and a panel discussion on forming a mango cooperative will be a part of the program.
Errol Chichester, horticulturist at the Department of Agriculture and chairman of the event, will discuss the merits of various varieties of mango including the before-mentioned Palmer, Keitt, Haden, Tommy Atkins, and Edward. Chichester said that although Julie mango is the preferred variety of St. Croix, there are many other varieties with excellent taste, quality and bearing habits.
The mango tree is perfect for St. Croix, growers like Charles Smith say. For one, the mango is the only tree on the island that can withstand drought and hurricane. The fruit also thrives in the territory's climate. For it to flower, which later turn into fruit, the tree needs a dry period. And that coincides with the dry period on St. Croix, Smith said. And pests also don't care much for the fruit either.
Agriculture experts estimate that there are some 35,000 mango trees in the territory, many of which are under the care of home gardeners. For commercial production to become a reality, though, is for growers to organize and form an association. That way costs can be pooled and eventually processing equipment could be purchased.
On Sunday, meanwhile, a collection of mango products such as jams, jellies, pies, tarts, and wines. Lectures on propagation and culture of mangoes will also be presented,
and the audience will be able to win prizes by answering questions about mangoes.
Farmers will be selling mango products and other vendors will be selling a wide variety of arts and crafts. The 1999 Mango Melee tee shirt is available now in the Botanical Garden gift shop, and will be available on the day of the event.
The Botanical Garden nursery will have five varieties of 4 foot mango trees for sale, as well as a large variety of other trees and landscaping plants. Stanley and the Sleepless Nights and the Housing Authority Steel Pan Bank will add music to the festivities.
The event is being made possible by Charles Schwab and Company, Corporate Sponsor of Mango Melee.
