Mango festival draws record turnout
MANGO FESTIVAL IN NMB'S BACKYARD SHOWS WHY HWT MANGOES DO NOT SELL...
LOIS KINDLE/STAFF
Cherri Clark, center, looks over boxes of tree-ripened mangos at Colorfield Farms during its recent Mango Festival. The three-day event attracted more than 1,000 people.
By LOIS KINDLE | The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 03, 2011
Updated: August 03, 2011 - 2:50 PM
WIMAUMA --
More than 1,000 visitors from all over the Tampa Bay area learned there is nothing like a tree-ripened mango at the recent Colorfield Farms Mango Festival.
Hosted by owner Ann Pidgeon, the three-day event showcased the tropical fruit through continuous samplings, educational demos, smoothie sales and a farmers market filled with many of the 35 varieties of mango she grows at her plant nursery.
"It's small, but it's still a lot of fun," said Leanna Romero of Brandon, as she purchased a Keitt mango tree. "This is my second visit. I've introduced many of my friends to mangos since coming here."
After one of her four demonstrations, visitors swarmed around Pidgeon, asking questions about mango trees they grew at home.
"I enjoyed her presentation," said Jean Mahosky of Tierra Verde, attending for the first time. "I asked her why my tree isn't producing fruit, and she gave me some good advice."
Pidgeon said she hosts the annual event to build awareness and, of course, to generate customers for her business. She said this year's turnout was the best yet.
"I'm very pleased," she said. "We had beautiful weather, lots of happy people and our new air-conditioned tasting room was a big hit."
Colorfield Farms is at 8221 State Road 674, Wimauma. To learn more, call (813)833-2545 or visitwww.colorfieldfarms.com.
lkindle@tampatrib.com (813) 731-8138
