14 April 2009 - Punta Gorda, Belize

Toledo Cacao Fest - 22nd—24th May

During Commonwealth Day holiday weekend, Toledo district will once again host the Toledo Cacao Festival organized by the Toledo Cacao Growers Association (TCGA) with the support of BTIA, the country's travel association. The festival is becoming established as a regular feature on the Belize tourism calendar and attracting visitors both from within Belize and overseas.

Toledo itself can be justly considered as the original home of cacao and chocolate which played such an important part in ancient Mayan life. Today the TCGA sends its members beans to a UK manufacturer where it is transformed into the world-renowned "Mayan Gold" orange-flavoured chocolate, the very first 'Fair Trade' product in the UK.

These days an increasing acreage in Toledo is being given over to the organic cultivation of cacao while the UK chocolate maker pays above the market rate for the beans. The cultivation of cacao is a win-win situation for the environment since cacao is a sub canopy species and grows best in the shade of other trees. This discourages slash and burn agriculture and the farmers are now being encouraged to intercrop their cacao with other cash crops such as allspice. Cocoa production has done more to make a difference to the well-being of the people of southern Belize than any number of development projects. The annual cacao festival is the fun part which celebrates Toledo’s central importance in this sector of the economy.

As in previous years the festival begins on Friday night with a wine and chocolate evening at the University of Belize campus in Punta Gorda. Students from the Tumul Kin Center of Learning in Blue Creek village will provide marimba accompaniment while a selection of Garifuna and Creole songs will be performed by students of the Delile Academy Choir from Dangriga.

The Taste of Toledo fair will take place all day on Saturday in PG’s Central Park. The day’s events include a cookery fair centered around chocolate recipes. There will be cookery presentations as well as a craft tent selling locally designed and produced craft products. The Cacao for Kids section of the fair will include face painting, story telling, punchboard a chess competition and more.

A feature of Saturday night’s entertainment will be the first ever Miss Cacao Fest Pageant where the participants will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of their own culture as well as their knowledge of the history of cacao and its production.

Sunday the third and final day of the festival will feature the cacao trail tours and cultural presentations at Lubaantun Maya site. Visitors will be taken to see working cacao plantations. The events at Lubaantun will include a performance of the Mooro Dance as well as a performance of the Mayan Ball Game. The Mooro dance tells of the wars between the Maya and the Conquistadores and includes stylized battles and sword fighting.

>>For more details
contact Rob Hirons at rob [at] thelodgeatbigfalls [dot ] com
011-501-671-7172 - phone
http://www.thelodgeatbigfalls.com