Grenada Mango Fest 2011 in its third year is dubbed by organizer, Marketing & National Importing Board – Grenada, as “Much Sweeter”. This mega event which celebrates the mango – the King of Fruits – is carded for Grenada National Stadium July 15th 2011 under the theme ‘Embracing the King of Fruits for Nutritional, Social and Economic Benefits for Our Nation.” With well over 3500 patrons visiting this grand fiesta in the second year of the event in 2010, it is expected that in 2011, the crowds will definitely be larger. Scheduled to roll off with an official ceremony at 10:00am at which time the booths displaying dozens of mango varieties found on the spice isle, dishes made from mangoes, agro products, agriculture inputs, plants and information on mangoes will be blessed by Rev Deacon Cecil St.Louis representing the Conferences of Churches in Grenada. Prime Minister, Hon Tillman Thomas will be making his second appearance as Prime Minister to the event and will be delivering the Feature Address. Minister responsible for Tourism and Parliamentary Representative for the Town of St. George, Hon Peter David has confirmed his attendance while Governor General, His Excellency Sir Carlyle Glean will declare Mango Fest 2011. With approximately fifty exhibitors or booths expected on display during Mango Fest 2011 grand fiesta, patrons can rest assured that there will be many items for tasting, sampling and purchasing as they support the Agri-Entrepreneurs, who are striving not only to show off their skills and innovation but who are looking forward to this event each year to get much needed income to improve their livelihood. In fact, in recent years it has been the emphasis of Government Policy to focus on value addition in the agriculture sector and Grenada Mango Festival has as one of its objectives to achieve such a goal. At approximately 1:00pm, a media round table, “Under the Mango Tree: Looking Beyond the Flesh”, featuring Chemist, Dr Guido Marcelle, Mr. Simeon Collins, Director Grenada Bureau of Standards and Mr. Reginald Andall, Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) Country Representative – Grenada. This will be hosted by well know media Personality, Shirma Wells. Afterwards, the atmosphere at the Grenada National Stadium will intensify with the flagship event – mango eating competition. This event has brought much excitement and nail-biting experiences at the stadium in the past two years that organizers saying, “If your heart is not good stay away” as this year competitors have been training and gearing up ready to devour mangoes in the fastest time. There will also be acts of culture including, poems, calypso, extempore, karaoke, folk dancing, steel pan music, face painting, mango painting, mango-expressions, games and quizzes and prize a giving ceremony for 2010 art competition as well as winners of 2011 booth exhibitors. While the opening ceremony is expected to be carried live on GBN Klassic 540 or www.klassicgrenada.com from 10am on Friday July 15th 2011, there are also plans for using ICT where viewers online can follow Mango Fest 2011 through video streaming and social media tools and applications. As Grenada mango Fest 2011, strives to create its own identity, event paraphernalia in the form of T-Shirts and apron are now available for sale at the Marketing & National Importing Board’s (MNIB) main office on Young Street in St. George’s or any of its retail outlets in the spice isle. One can also sport the sticker “Grenada Mango Fest 2011- Much Sweeter” when they shop at any of MNIB retail outlets. With support from Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Union Special Framework of Assistance 2006 in the first two years of the event, MNIB now continue to nurture the relationships that were created with over a dozen private sector organization and community based organization in rolling an event which in its third year has hit Grenada like a storm. As many persons in the spice isle continue to exclaim, “It’s the best thing Grenada has seen in many years.” At approximately 7:00pm the curtain will be drawn on yet another Grenada Mango Fest 2011 Grand Fiesta and the stage will be set for yet another collaborative series of activities with community and parish partners outside of the capital city, St.George’s, for mango distribution to businesses, homes, institutions and businesses in those areas. In 2011, MNIB applauds the continued support of all exhibitors, private sector organizations, on Governmental Organizations, and community based organizations: Ministry of Agriculture, Grenada Broadcasting Corporation TV (GBN TV), Courts Grenada Ltd. Digicel Grenada,Renwick & Thompson Co. Ltd., Marketing & National Importing Board, Grenada Board of Tourism, Wagg T Rentals & Sound, Cathwills Stationery, Winfresh, Glenelg Spring Water, Signs & Design, Grenada Board of Tourism. Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association along with the associated Bar Tenders and Chefs, St.Andrew’s Development Organization, St.Patrick’s Development Organization, Gouyave Fish Friday Festival, St.John’s Cultural and Sports Club, Sunset City Food Festival, Carriacou Farmer Organization, Grenada Arts Council. Roderick St. Clair Marketing Manager MNIB