Mango Melee competition 2022. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
The annual Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival is scheduled for Sunday, July 7 at the St. George Village Botanical Garden on St. Croix. The summer event aims to foster a greater appreciation for tropical fruits, especially mangoes, and educate attendees on how to grow them and their various uses.
The festival is a celebration of the “Queen of Tropical Fruit,” the mango, and offers a plethora of activities, including workshops, demonstrations, tastings, vendor booths, contests, and social interactions, promising a fun-filled day for all attendees.
Last year, the event bustled with excitement as Yasmine Tuitt, 14, defended her title and emerged victorious in the Mango Eating Competition for the second consecutive year at the 27th annual Mango Melee. Tuitt's win was a highlight in a day that brimmed with community camaraderie and celebration of mangoes.
In the children's category, 9-year-old Anita Thomas won the Mango Eating Competition, earning a $30 Sorbetiere Ice Cream coupon and $50 gift certificates to both Nate’s Boat House and Grapetree Bay.
The Mango Melee has evolved into a beloved community event that not only pays tribute to mangoes but also supports local vendors. Last year, vendors offered a wide variety of mango-inspired delicacies, including mango pineapple salsa, mango rum, mango sweet chili sauce, mango cheesecake cups, mango ice cream, mango grilled chicken, and mango summer rolls.
Governor Albert Bryan, speaking during the Government House weekly press briefing on Monday, encouraged the community to attend. "Hope to see you out there. Always a great festival to go to enjoy at the Botanical Gardens every year, and we're gonna be out there sluxing on some mangoes," he said.
