New Port Richey, April 4 – Loquat trees, jars of loquat preserves, a loquat chicken recipe, flyers, programs, and t-shirts were flying off tables last Saturday at the 3rd annual Florida Loquat Festival. This year there was a location change to Frances Avenue Park in New Port Richey, and parking was scarce. Despite storms earlier in the morning, the turnout was estimated at around 1,000 people, according to event organizer Dell deChant. The event has grown steadily since its inception in 2014, when it was hosted at Rose’s Market Off Main’s old location on Lafayette Avenue.

This year festival vendors again offered grafted loquat trees for sale, some as small as large seedlings for $5 all the way up to large, plastic wrapped ten-footers for around $100. A number of experts spoke on a variety of topics from the history and origins of the loquat tree, to the many ways that the trees can be cultivated, tended, and grafted.

Other vendors were selling foodstuffs made from the versatile “urban” fruit, as organizers lovingly call it. Sylvia Spencer said she had about 175 jars that she had made over the last month, all harvested from local loquat trees. She was not dissuaded by last year’s festival having sold out of jams and jellies within its first hour. “I think I have enough,” she said. That turned out not to be the case, organizer Dell deChant told us: she sold out.

Local restaurants got into the spirit of fruit. Local hotspot Leaning Tower of Pizza featured a pasta dish featuring loquats at their restaurant, and Rose Mohr of Rose’s Bistro Off Main was at the event handing out free samples of loquat salad dressing and a loquat chicken dish. By all accounts, it seemed that event attendees couldn’t get enough fruit.

Later in the day, the mic was opened for a Loquat Poetry Reading, with a range of entries from aspiring writers. Some could be seen writing their poems as the event progressed, drawing inspiration from the festival itself.

This year’s event was supported by an ever-growing list of sponsors, and organizers are already looking to next year’s event.

For those interested, organizers say they still have event T-shirts for sale for $15 and commemorative brochures still available for $5. Call Dell deChant at (727) 849-1626 for more information.

See more photos of the event below.