Market at the Grounds mango mania

(CNS):  More than 400 people came out to the 3rd annual Mango Fest held in conjunction with Market at the Grounds last weekend where local chefs and farmers showcased the many varieties of the fruit and use in cooking. The Cayman Islands Agriculture Society and Department of Agriculture also took the occasion to celebrate the local fruit and teach visitors about it. A wide variety of jams, cakes, tarts, cookies and juices were sold at the family fun event. The agriculture minister, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly described Mango Fest as a “key cultural event”. 

"Festivals such as these provide the opportunity for growers of mangoes and tropical fruits to share their different crop varieties with the community and are an ideal forum for crop producers and business owners to showcase their produce, arts and crafts, food and merchandise. It was a great family outing and I would like to thank all those who made the day possible," the Deputy Premier said. 

The local varieties of mango in season and at the show were mainly the Nam Doc, Julie, Kent, Valencia Pride and Jakarta. Cayman’s celebrity chefs and representatives of Slow Food South Sound showcased their culinary expertise, with the mango. Dishes included mango ice cream,  grilled mango and manchego bruschetta, as well as curried mango spring roll, mango tarte tatin with almond cream dessert, tuna ceviche with Julie mango and crispy cassava, smoked pork shoulder using mango wood with mango barbeque sauce, green mango slaw and mango flan.

Mango trees were also on sale at the event and the Department of Agriculture took the opportunity to educate the public on the care of mango trees and the effects of the disease, Anthracnose, by distributing a leaflet on the subjects. In addition, the Society's display included general information about mangos and a variety of mango samplings, cakes and juices.