USVI-On-Line

I know the saying and agree with it when visiting the national parks, take only pictures and leave only foot prints. But, are you allowed to pick the fruit from the fruit trees to enjoy? Laura

Specifically what fruit are you referring to?

Genips?

I can't say that I've personally come across any fruit trees in the park domain beyond the genip trees and I have never been ticketed for picking one off the tree and eating it.

But I would not advise just picking something off of a random tree without some knowledge of what you are eating.

We've also eaten a coconut or two, but only ones that have hit the ground. If they are still on the tree they contain more milk than meat and aren't worth the trouble.

Just my .02.

I know there is some kind of fruit that grows along the Reef Bay Trail that people pick and eat. Soursops, I think?

This topic remninds me of a time that we rented a house with a papaya tree in the yard. I was very excited, thinking I'd be able to eat some fruit from the tree. Well, the night before the day I thought the fruits would be ripe enough to pick, some creature came along and ate them all! I woke up to find nothing but empty papaya skins hanging from the tree.

I know up here in Shenandoah National Park you're allowed to harvest the berries in late summer. That doesn't really help you too much since it's not the VINP. But it's an example of being able to harvest and eat a fruit within a National Park.

liamsaunt wrote: This topic remninds me of a time that we rented a house with a papaya tree in the yard. I was very excited, thinking I'd be able to eat some fruit from the tree. Well, the night before the day I thought the fruits would be ripe enough to pick, some creature came along and ate them all! I woke up to find nothing but empty papaya skins hanging from the tree.

Same thing happened to us on Virgin Gorda. The trees were loaded with papayas one day, the next day - nothing but hollowed out skins. I think it was some sort of bird.

Yes, genips, guava and mango. I grew up in the tropics so know most of the fruits that would grow on STJ.