Every year, tons of fruit in Vanuatu are either sold too quickly during the season or left to rot, as farmers and markets lack the means to properly preserve them.

This challenge will take center stage at the country’s first-ever Fruit Festival, to be held from October 8 to 10 at the popular Pikinini Bar in Port Vila. The event will be hosted in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and the Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu.

The festival aims to encourage healthy living, smarter farming practices, and stronger tourism links, while addressing one of the biggest questions farmers face: how to preserve fruit and make it available beyond its natural season.

“Farmers who stick with fruit production through good and bad times will share their experiences. We will also learn why shortages occur in certain seasons and what can be done to ensure consistency year-round,” said lead farmer Milroy.

For many farmers, the lack of preservation methods leads to major losses. “Sometimes we sell all our mangoes, but other times they just go to waste. The same happens with tomatoes,” one farmer explained.

Local grower Lopez Adamas added: “One of our biggest problems is not knowing how to preserve fruits properly. After the festival, we hope to explore packaging, processing, and bottling steps we have not yet reached in Vanuatu.”

Alongside expert discussions, the festival will feature a range of activities and public sessions to share knowledge on fruit preservation, processing, and the wider role of fruit in health and tourism.

Organizers are inviting the public to attend, learn, and be part of what they hope will become a landmark event for farmers and consumers alike.