MangoFest sparks export talks
By Tameika Malone - Monday, August 15th, 2011.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Organisers of the annual MangoFest held at Christian Valley over the weekend are currently engaged in talks to have the local mango marketed locally and possibly exported.
“We have met with someone from the United States who us looking into the possibility of helping us set up an arrangement where we can juice some of our mangoes and put them in boxes for local consumption first because we want to start utilising what we have here first to the max, and then consider exporting to the region,” chairman of the MangoFest Committee Caudley George said.
An estimated 5,000 people attended day-two activities yesterday, surpassing figures of previous years.
In addition to mangoes, they bought locally produced desserts and drinks prepared using locally grown produce. Some used the opportunity to purchase slips for replanting while others savoured the culinary items on sale.
“Our local professionals housewives and agro-processors produce items such as the mango cake, pineapple turnover, pineapple upside down cake and mango wine. There is a lot of food here and they are all locally made and inspired by local produce,” George said
The mango ice-cream was considered the number one item of the weekend, with vendors running out before the end of the day yesterday.
There are some 26 varieties of mangoes in Antigua including popular kidney and Julie mangoes.
