23rd Annual International Mango Festival: Mangos of Cuba
A spotlight on Cuban mangos makes perfect sense following President Obama’s historic trip to the island and the announcement of agreements for U.S.-Cuba agriculture sectors. “Mangos are Cuba’s third most important tropical fruit after bananas and plantains,” says Noris Ledesma, Fairchild’s curator of tropical fruit, but the industry itself has been very small since the early 1990s. At the festival, tree sales include the following cultivars:
‘Toledo’ – From Western Cuba, this dwarf tree has small fruit with fibrous flesh, but a rich, sweet experience.
‘Prieto’ – This heirloom cultivar from Cuba has small fruit with dark-green skin and a rich, sweet, spicy flavor. The fruit can be rolled on a table to release the juice for drinking.
‘San Felipe’ – This Cuban variety has many characteristics of the Haden, with one-pound fruits with deep yellow to orange flesh. It’s perfect for the home gardener searching for a taste of old Cuba.
The Grower’s Summit on July 8 focuses on the local production of quality mangos.
The weekend festival includes mango trees and fruit sales, workshops, activities for kids and a Mango Brunch on Sunday.
Date: July 08-10, 2016 9:30 AM-4:30 PM
Location: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Admission: Grower’s Summit: members $65, non-members $80 Festival: members free, non-member adults $25; seniors 65 and over $18; children 6-17 $12; children 5 and under free Mango Brunch: members $100, non-members $125.
Event website: fairchildgarden.org
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