Event Description
Enjoy the Garden’s most fruitful season.
On Saturday, July 2 from 9am – 2pm, take your taste buds on a trip across the globe to sample fruit from the tropics — and learn about some of the lesser-known edible plants growing in the Garden.
Many of the world’s favorite fruits – like banana, mango, pineapple, and more – have subtropical or tropical origins. Our climate in Southwest Florida is well-suited for growing these sweet treats, and at the Garden, you can find fruiting plants growing in nearly all of our designed landscapes.
Have you ever wondered how to open a coconut or jackfruit? Maybe you’ve always wanted to know how to grow vanilla? You’ll have the opportunity to get the answers to these questions and more during hands-on demonstrations, themed programs, and special tours of the tropical fruit plants of the Garden!
Purchase Tickets
Tasting the Tropics Scheduled Programs
9am Guided Tour: Fruits of Asia
9:30am Demonstration: Cutting Open a Jackfruit
10am Guided Tour: Fruits of the Caribbean
10:30am Demonstration: Coconut Processing
11am Guided Tour: Fruits of Brazil
11:30am Demonstration: Go Bananas for Bananas
12pm Guided Tour: Fruits of Asia
12:30pm Demonstration: Vining Vanilla
1pm Guided Tour: Fruits of the Caribbean
Ongoing Activities (9am – 2pm)
• Tropical Fruit Tasting and Display inside Kapnick Hall
• W.O.N.D.E.R. Family Programming “Little Green Thumbs” on the Performance Lawn
• Dig Deeper: “The Spice is Right” Drop-in Adult Programming on the terrace of Kapnick Hall
Tasting the Tropics is included with general Garden admission. Guided tours have limited capacity; sign up with a staff member at the Smith Entry Prow upon arrival.
Tropical-fruit infused specials available for purchase at Fogg Café
Jackfruit taco (vegan) – Jackfruit, adobo, avocado, cilantro, onion, lime, corn tortilla 3 for $13
Coconut Gazpacho (vegan, gluten-free) – Coconut, almond, cucumber, roasted grapes, mint oil $5
Passionfruit Refresher – Passionfruit, pineapple, orange, lime, ginger beer $3
Supported by: Collier Fruit Growers
Special Thanks to: Fruit & Spice Park
