Fresh fruit on St. John?

[RickG]

It's been hit or miss in November in the past. I'm hoping to hook up with some papaya and anything else in season. Any hints on fruit availability?

Cheers, RickG

[Gromit]

Rick-- I'm so glad you asked this question... MR. Gromit and I eat out on island and don't usually pay attention to this stuff...BUT...

We're bringing my in-laws for the first time and I think they have this image of being able to just buy fresh fish right off the boat and fresh produce on the beach.

I'm trying to inject some reality but am also interested in seeing if I can find another way to accomodate them.

IMHO the produce at Starfish is less than great. Pine Peace though always had great produce when we dropped in on them.

I know we can get some fresh fish at the Fish Trap and I'm definitely planning on popping in on Josephine to see what she has available.

So, if I may, I'd like to piggy back on your question and see if someone out there knows something that I don't in the fresh seafood dept in addition to your question about fruits & veggies...

[RickG]

I've gotten huge papaya's, round ones not the elongated mexican papayas, at Nature's Nook. I just don't know what the seasons are for local produce.

Cheers RickG

[waterguy]

Rick there is a papaya tree off the end of the drive way through the garden. Mango off the deck of the lower room. banana ,lime and grapefruit trees in between the two decks. Don't know if they will be bearing but you can look.

[Gromit]

This site doeasn't answer your question but it's a nice summary of what fruits are available in the VI (my fave is the genip):

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/flora_fauna/fruit.php

I remember the first time I saw the local kids eating (sucking on) the genips. Tehyw ere climbing the tree after school to get to them. Then they made a little sack using the front of their shirts to hold what they'd gathered. They would bite the top off the genip and suck on the flesh on their walk home.

YUMMY!!

[hugo]

Unfortunately, November is not a great time for local produce...mangos are mainly summer, although there can be a small mid-winter crop some years, avocados are late summer, grapefruit is February...etc. You may find some papayas, limes, bananas-- and coconuts, of course. On the St. John the only places to definitely check are Josephine, Nature's and sometimes the little stand at the top of Teri Gibney's driveway. If you have any reason to drive around on St. Thomas, you can find local-- or at least Caribbean-- produce at several roadside stands there.
What is available should be extra large with all the late summer rain this year!

[ScubaGirl]

Rick,

There is a fruit stand along the main street in STT, very close to the STJ ferry. We have bought fruit there several times, to take on the boat, and it's pretty good. Also the produce at Plaza Extra, next to KMart in Tutu, on STT is pretty good.(not sure if you are making any stops on STT, before getting on the ferry)

Sydney

[PA Girl]

We're bringing my in-laws for the first time and I think they have this image of being able to just buy fresh fish right off the boat and fresh produce on the beach.

I'm trying to inject some reality but am also interested in seeing if I can find another way to accomodate them.

I have nothing to offer but had to jump in and say my mother had the same ideas about the availability. She had visions in her head of feasting on straight from the vine/tree produce and was more than a wee bit disappointed when reality hit!

[MrB]

Rick there is a papaya tree off the end of the drive way through the garden. Mango off the deck of the lower room. banana ,lime and grapefruit trees in between the two decks. Don't know if they will be bearing but you can look.

Don't forget the pomegranate in the front above the driveway. The lemons and limes are usually around in Nov, bananas are hit an miss.


Also...that small stand just before/after caneel sometimes has one of those big-assed papayas.

[RickG]

Thanks all! Pretty much what I expected. We'll keep our eyes out and stock up on STT. It sounds like Allesandra is well planted.

Cheers, RickG

[snorkeler525]

This site doeasn't answer your question but it's a nice summary of what fruits are available in the VI (my fave is the genip):

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/flora_fauna/fruit.php

I remember the first time I saw the local kids eating (sucking on) the genips. Tehyw ere climbing the tree after school to get to them. Then they made a little sack using the front of their shirts to hold what they'd gathered. They would bite the top off the genip and suck on the flesh on their walk home.

YUMMY!!

Gromit - thank you for that site! Just wish it listed seasons too. I too love genips. We first tasted them when I was a kid living in Panama (they called them something different); then got some on my honeymoon in the DR. I would love to go to the VI when they are in season as they are the absolute best and you can't find them in any stores around us.

[stjohnjulie]

The genips are ripe right now. My house, with the tin roof, is under a genip tree. They have been hitting the roof for a couple of weeks now. I have seen dragon fruit, star fruit, and avocados in the past week or so as well. Nature's Nook and Pine Peace usually have local grown fruits if they are in season. You can also check by Nature's Nook in the afternoons to see if there is any fresh caught fish for sale. Look for the guy with the cooler and scale.

[toni]

Can someone tell me where Nature's Nook is? Thanks!

[Pia]

Natures Nook is in Cruz Bay opposite the old car ferry dock - it is a little "shack" painted yellow

Pia

[RickG]

julie, thanks for the tips and the reminder - we got hand fulls of star fruit from sloop jones last year in November, yum!



I'm starting to find myself drifting off thinking about the smells and colors of St. John these days... soon come.

Cheers, RickG