At this year’s annual Florida Loquat Festival organizers will once again include a literary feature. Curator for the literary festival is Ryan Chen from the University of South Florida’s Masters of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing.

The Loquat Literary festival is seeking one-page poetry and prose submissions for a reading at the event that will be held at Frances Avenue Park (6156 Louisiana Avenue, 34653) in New Port Richey on Saturday, March 24 from  9 a.m. to  2 p.m.  All styles and forms of poetry and prose are welcome as long as loquats are the subject or central image.

Anyone who wishes to participate is encouraged to do so. Accepted submissions will be invited to read at the event at 1:oo p.m. and their entry will be published in the annual chapbook, Leaves of Loquat, which will be presented in the fall during a public event.

Any time remaining after the appointed readings will be open to the public for open mic presentations. Again, all ages and levels of experience are welcome to submit.

Up to three submissions of all things loquat (poetry or prose) are allowed. If making more than one submission, please send all at the same time. No submission may be more than one page.  One submission, per author, will be selected for inclusion in Leaves of Loquat. Include brief cover letter/bio sharing your writing experience/publications, if any, to chengr@mail.usf.edu by 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, March 17. Accepted submissions will be notified by Friday, March 18.

If you are interested: Submit 1-page of prose or poetry of all things loquat and a short cover letter/bio sharing your writing experience/publications, if any, to chengr@mail.usf.edu . Again, all ages and levels of experience are welcome to participate during the festival.

The 5th Annual Florida Loquat Festival is a learning and sharing event expanding the knowledge and appreciation of the loquat tree and its fruit. There will be presentations on the cultivation of loquat trees, how to eat its fruit, how to can it and cook with it, including recipes using loquats.

Also featured will be samples for tasting and a talk on the cultural context of this often overlooked Florida fruit-bearing tree. Trees will be available for sale from licensed Florida nurseries along with fresh fruit, loquat preserves, and other loquat products.

This is the only festival celebrating the loquat in the United States. The festival will feature trees, seeds, recipes, brochures, lectures, poetry, and (as available) fresh fruit and preserves. Festival shirts will also be available. For more information about this event scheduled for Saturday, March 24 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), call Marilynn deChant at (727) 849-1626.  It is open to the public and free to attend.

###
Ecology Florida and Friendship Farms & Fare will host the fourth annual Florida Loquat Festival on Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Frances Avenue Park (5580 Frances Ave., 34652) in New Port Richey. Come and enjoy this one-of-a-kind celebration of Florida’s wonderful spring fruit.

###

EVENT SPONSORS AND HOSTS
Friendship Farms & Fare affirms and advances agrarian ideals to reestablish
a sustainable culture
http://www.fffsite.org/

Ecology Florida advances the harmonious integration of healthy natural, cultural, and economic ecologies to regenerate a sustainable world
http://www.ecologyflorida.org/

PREMIER EVENT SUPPORTER

Suncoast Credit Union Our mission is simple — improve the quality of our members’ lives by maintaining a strong, secure and innovative credit union that builds trust, shows respect and maximizes efficiency.
https:/www.suncoastcreditunion.com/