The thirty-five different varieties of mango on display at this year’s Mango Array and Tropical Fruit Festival were not surprisingly the star attraction today, July 12, 2013 at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park. Photo: VINO

One of the varieties of mango on offer was actually named Mutton Kidney. Photo: VINO

Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Arona Fahie-Forbes said this year's event had the widest variety of mangoes on display. Photo: VINO

Some of these natural made soap products were actually made from fruits, including mango extract. Photo: VINO

Some of the vegetables on display at the Festival. Photo: VINO

One of the attractive fruit displays at the festival. Photo: VINO

Patrons were left transfixed and seemingly in deep discussion about which were their favourites as passionate remarks and much gesticulation were on display.

The Festival was, however, not all about mangoes and their juicy benefits as various vendors stole the opportunity to display other luscious and shiny fruits and vegetables that competed for the attention given to the gleaming mangoes.

The Department of Agriculture sponsored event, now in its fourth year, was billed as an experience that promised to be both educational and economical for patrons and vendors alike and this was clearly evident from a casual stroll around the park today.

Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer, Mrs Arona Fahie-Forbes said that there were more mangoes as a result of pruning training. “We have training in pruning and when you prune, the level of disease is reduced and you get a better quality of the fruit and that’s what we have observed.”

Mrs Fahie-Forbes also felt that there was a larger array of mangoes on offer this year, both for sale and for display, when compared to previous years that the festival had been hosted. She expressed though, that those on display were only a sample of the total variety available within the Territory.

She was particularly grateful for the sunshine that came given the threat of Tropical Storm Chantal that hovered earlier in the week. Fahie-Forbes said she hope that the total number of varieties of mango could be properly documented for upcoming festivals, inclusive of the stories behind some of them.

Anyone in the mood for Mutton Kidney mangoes?