From fresh mangoes and pommeracs to handcrafted jams, juices and sauces, local fruits will take centre stage on July 25 at the inaugural VisionForge Collective TT Fruit Festival 2026, an event designed to celebrate Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural heritage while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and farmers.The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 59 Gordon Street, St Augustine, bringing together farmers, agro-processors, artisans and small business owners in what organiser Dilean Smith-Richards hopes will become an annual celebration of Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural heritage.
Fresh fruits.
“The Fruit Festival 2026 was inspired by our desire to celebrate Trinidad and Tobago’s rich variety of local fruits while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, farmers, agro-processors and artisans. We wanted to create an event where people could discover the many ways our local fruits can be enjoyed, while supporting small businesses and encouraging healthier lifestyles,” Smith-Richards said.Smith-Richards said VisionForge Collective TT was created by a group of entrepreneurs who believed collaboration was the key to helping small businesses thrive. “We recognised that many talented small business owners needed greater visibility and opportunities to grow. Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs by providing platforms for networking, education, business development and community engagement while celebrating local talent and innovation.”She said the organisation deliberately chose to focus on local fruits because they remain an important part of Trinidad and Tobago’s culture and economy, despite many varieties being underutilised. “Fruits are an important part of our culture, agriculture and economy, yet many are seasonal and often underutilised. We wanted to highlight their nutritional value and demonstrate how they can be transformed into high-quality value-added products. This festival encourages people to appreciate, purchase and use more locally grown fruits,” Smith-Richards said. Smith-Richards, who is the founder of an agro based processing business which produces preservatives including jams, jellies, preservatives and juices, called Just D’s, believes the event fills a void in the local events calendar. “There are very few events dedicated entirely to celebrating local fruits and the entrepreneurs who create innovative fruit-based products. The festival bridges the gap between farmers, producers, consumers and small businesses by bringing everyone together in one vibrant marketplace while promoting food security, healthy living and entrepreneurship,” she said.Visitors can expect fresh local fruits, fruit-based beverages, jams, sauces, desserts, baked goods, preserves, relishes, seasonings and snacks, along with handmade products, health and wellness exhibitors, live demonstrations, entertainment, fashion, giveaways and activities for children.“Our makers include agro-processors, chefs, bakers, artisans, beverage producers, wellness businesses, craft creators, designers and other entrepreneurs who use their creativity and skills to produce high-quality local products,” Smith-Richards said.She added that one of the festival’s major goals is to encourage sustainability by showing how fruit that may otherwise go to waste can be turned into profitable products. “Value-added processing helps reduce waste, creates additional income for farmers and supports environmental sustainability.”Smith-Richards said supporting locally grown fruits has become even more important as imported foods continue to dominate supermarket shelves. “Supporting local fruits strengthens our farmers, reduces dependence on imports, promotes food security and keeps more money circulating within our local economy. It also reminds us that many of our own fruits are highly nutritious, delicious and versatile.”She said festivals such as this also provide farmers and food producers with opportunities to build their businesses.
