By Paula Fernandez De Los Muros….
The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden hosts its 19th annual International Mango Festival July 9-10, this year celebrating the Mangos of Hawaii.
Just in time for the South Florida mango harvest, the festival features everything and more for the mango lover. Shop curator choice mango trees, experience mango-inspired cooking demonstrations, join mango tastings and flavor evaluations, view the world’s largest display of mangos from Fairchild’s nurseries, have fun at the children’s activities area, tickle your taste buds at the spectacular mango brunch on Sunday and so much more.
MANGO LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
Saturday – July 9 — Garden House
1 p.m. The Mangos of Hawaii, Dr. Richard Campbell and Noris Ledesma, FTBG
2 p.m. Growing Mangos in Japan, Dr. John Yonemoto
2:30 p.m. Fairchild Variety Mango Kit for Home Owners, Noris Ledesma
3 p.m. Pruning and Shaping for Home Gardening, Dr. Richard Campbell
3:30 p.m. Pest and Disease Management in Mango, Dr. Jonathan Crane, UF
Sunday – July 10 — Near Cycad Circle
10:30 a.m. Grafting Mangos, Erik Teitig, Pine Island Nursery
11:30 a.m. Selecting and Growing the Perfect Mango, Jeff Wasielewski, FTBG
1 p.m. Mangos of Hawaii Mangos, Ken Love, Hawaiian Tropical Fruit Growers
2 p.m. Mango Pruning, Erik Tietig
MANGO TASTING, EVALUATION
Fairchild selects the finest quality mangos, ripened to perfection and cut fresh each day, then makes them available for tasting and evaluations. Help us decide which mango will reign as the best tasting mango by casting your vote. Tastings while supplies last.
COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS
Join Miami’s top chefs as they show us their tricks of the trade for creating delicious mango-centered dishes, both savory and sweet!
Mango Sampling (Saturday Only) Miami’s top restaurants, caterers and businesses alike will be sampling their best mango dishes and products. Be sure to come early, this free sampling is one of the Festival’s most anticipated events.
Enjoy our famous mango smoothies made from mango pulp from the Fairchild Farm.
The Curator Choice Mango trees are back and ready for you to take home for your collection. All are available while supplies last. Not sure what tree is best for you? Ask one of our mango experts!
TROPICAL YOGA FEATURING RINA YOGA
10:30 a.m. Yoga for Adults
11:30 a.m. Yoga for Kids
12:00 p.m. Mango Meditation
12:30 p.m. Yoga for Adults
1:30 p.m. Yoga for Kids
Pop-up Lectures featuring the Mango Medics — Random Acts of Gardening will take place throughout the day with information on proper planting, grafting, pruning practices and more. Have a question for the Mango Medics? They will all be on hand to answer all of your questions.
KidWay — The Life of a Mango — How do mangos grow? What are their growth stages? Every wonder why mangos taste so good? Join us in Kids Way for educational activities about the history of mangos and their many uses. Mangos of the World Fruit Market — The Fairchild world collection is ready for you to take home! Shop the many varieties of mangos from the Fairchild collection and stock up for your own cooking and eating pleasure!
Mangoville — All things mango can be found in our mango marketplace! From mango honey and mango soap to mango marinate and hot sauce, we have it all!
Mango Brunch (Sunday Only) — The culinary event of the summer is back with a Hawaiian twist! The Mango Brunch features six of South Florida’s top chefs all preparing special mango themed dishes. This year, keeping with the theme of Mangos of Hawaii, you will be immersed in Hawaiian culture. Sip on mango Mai Tais, sample the mangos of Hawaii and enjoy live entertainment. Reservations Required. Join some of South Florida’s greatest chefs as they prepare their best mango dishes. Chefs Frank and Andrea Randazzo, Creative Tastes Catering and Event Production; Chef Sean Bernal, Blue Door Fish at the Delano Hotel; Chef Ralph Pagano, STK Miami at the Gansevoort; Chef Tom Parlo, Biltmore Hotel; Chef Allen Susser, Chef Allen’s; Pastry Chef Gail Goetch, Essensia at The Palms Hotel.
The Mango Brunch is a fundraiser for our Tropical Fruit Program and the Fairchild Farm. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible. Ticket prices for the Mango Brunch are $100 for members and $125 for non-members. Tickets are available by ordering online or by calling 305-663-8058.
The International Mango Festival is sponsored by Whole Foods Market, with additional support from HSBC. For more information call or email .
