Dolcy D’Cruz
Goan summer fruits are an important part of the state’s agricultural and cultural identity. The year, the bumper produce of a rich variety of mangoes, including popular local types such as Mankurad, Fernandin, and Hilario, which are prized for their unique aroma and sweetness, have added more joy to the taste buds of Goans. Alongside mangoes, other fruits like jackfruit, pineapple, watermelon, and cashew apples also reach their peak during summer, offering a diverse range of flavours and uses. All of these and much more will be on display at Goa’s biggest fruit festival, Konkan Fruit Fiesta 2026. Organised by Agricos Alumni Association in collaboration with Our Lady of Rosary Church, Navelim, the fiesta will be held on May 15, 16, and 17 at Rosary High School Ground, Navelim, from 10 am to 8 pm. The four-day fruit festival is organised by a young and enthusiastic team of Agriculture graduates from Goa especially the Don Bosco College of Agriculture, with the aim of celebrating and promoting local fruits of Goa and the Konkan region. The inaugural ceremony will be held on May 15 at 5 pm. Fr Gabriel Coutinho will be the chief guest for the opening ceremony, while Suresh Kunkalikar will be the chief guest for the closing ceremony at the Goa College of Agriculture. There will be participation by the Directorate of Agriculture, Goa College of Agriculture, Medicinal Plant Board and Farmer Producer Organisations. “This year, the event is being organised entirely by a group of youngsters under 30. It is one of the biggest summer festivals in Goa, and the organizing team led by women is working together to bring it to life. We would like to invite the public to attend in large numbers, as the event is completely free of cost with no entry fee. We encourage everyone to come and experience the wide variety of Goan summer fruits and gain valuable knowledge about them,” says Shweta Gaonkar. President of Agricos Alumni Association. Shweta, graduated in 2019 along with Priyanka Parab, followed by Secretary of AAA, Liza Pinheiro, and Estella Pires in 2020, and Treasurer Danica Dias in 2021. While the association is 75 members strong, many alumni are currently pursuing further studies outside the state. “We are trying to convince younger alumni to join and support us with the programme, because it is very difficult to conduct events without volunteers,” says Shweta. Previously, the organisers collaborated with institutions such as St Francis Xavier School, Siolim for plant festivals, and have also worked with the Botanical Society of Goa for the Konkan Fruit Fest since 2023. However, this year the event is being conducted independently by the same group of young members, now functioning under the Agricos Alumni Association. Secretary of AAA, Liza Pinheiro says, “This initiative is entirely being organized by youth under the age of 30. Earlier, many of them were members of the Botanical Society of Goa, but this edition is being independently led by young organisers under the Agricos Alumni Association. The festival will also feature dance competitions, including a folk dance competition. Unlike earlier fruit festivals, this year includes workshops aimed at creating greater awareness about plants, plant care, and techniques such as disease management, air layering, and grafting. Members of the Botanical Society of Goa have been invited to contribute to these sessions. Miguel Braganza, who has been a mentor to many agricultural graduates, will serve as a judge for the fresh fruit competition.” This year, the festival is expecting a higher number of fruit entries, with over 100 varieties already being registered for the fresh fruit competition. The season has also seen a bumper yield of mangoes and other summer fruits, and accordingly, a special mango display and sale will be part of the event. “Earlier editions included drawing competitions, but this year it has been replaced with an eco-art competition. Participants will be provided with paper and encouraged to create collages using natural materials such as leaves, flowers, and stones. The festival will also feature stalls offering fruit-based ice creams and slushies made from natural ingredients,” adds Liza. On May 17, there will be workshops on the topics, ‘Pest and disease management in plants from 12 pm – 1 pm, air layering and grafting techniques from 2 pm – 3 pm, kitchen garden design from 2.15 pm – 3.15 pm and EM solution for composting from 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm at Rosary School, Navelim.
