Piango Fest 2025 Officially Launched with a Call to “Keep the Sector Alive”by Brent Simon

Piango Fest 2025 Officially Launched with a Call to “Keep the Sector Alive”by Brent Simon

Farmers, agro-processors, government officials, and fruit lovers gathered at Judgment Square this morning for the official launch of Piango Fest 2025. The event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., was filled with vibrant displays, local produce, and optimism for the future of Antigua and Barbuda’s Agriculture. Delivering the feature address, Hon. Minister of Agriculture Lands Fisheries and the Blue Economy,Anthony Smith Jr. acknowledged the farmers and stakeholders present, calling them “defenders of our food security.” He extended a warm welcome to all and expressed his joy at launching what he described as a vital event in the island’s agricultural calendar.

“This marks a significant step in our journey to keeping the sector alive,” the Minister said. “Our theme this year—Plant, Peel, Process—reflects a collective commitment to ensuring that agriculture not only survives but thrives.”Formerly known as Mango Fest, the event was rebranded in 2019 to “Piango Fest” to reflect the dual focus on mangoes and pineapples—especially the Antigua’s iconic Black Pineapple. “This hybrid celebration gives us a chance to showcase the full value of what we grow, from the tree to the table,” the Minister explained.

Despite setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, this marks the second Piango Fest since the event’s post-pandemic revival, and organizers are keen to make it a permanent fixture once again. This year’s festival, set for August 17 at Cades Bay Agricultural Station, will highlight local ingenuity with a range of value-added products derived from mangoes and pineapples: jams, jellies, sauces, pastries, wines, juices, and more. “Our local varieties are a testament to the richness of our land—the growing sweetness of our mangoes, and the world-renowned Antigua Black pineapple,” Minister Smith said.

He also credited the government, the Ministry of Agriculture, and partner organization IICA for their support in revitalizing the Antigua Black pineapple industry, particularly through ongoing work at Cades Bay.

Minister Smith shared a remarkable update on the pineapple multiplication program: “We started with just 25 samples from local farmers, which we sent to St. Vincent for tissue culture. Those 25 became 15,000, and with planting and replanting, that number will keep multiplying.”

The launch was a celebration of resilience, collaboration, and renewed agricultural pride. With Piango Fest 2025 just weeks away, all eyes now turn to Cades Bay—where the sweetness of the land and the spirit of the people will be on full display.

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