The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Plenty of ways to get a kumquat fix at this festival

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If you love kumquats, the 24th annual Kumquat Festival in downtown Dade City, was like a little slice of heaven.

Various types of honey are reflected in Matt Smith’s sunglasses, at a booth operated by Brocks Bees, at the kumquat festival. Brocks Bees is based in Brooksville. (Fred Bellet)

Festival-goers could taste kumquat ice cream or kumquat pie.

They could pick up bags of the tiny, orange citrus fruit, sometimes called the “little gold gem of the citrus family.”

Festival-goers could stock up on kumquat marmalade, kumquat jelly, kumquat chutney, kumquat pepper jelly, kumquat marinade or kumquat vinaigrette.

They could get kumquat preserves.

They could buy kumquat barbecue sauce — sweet or spicy, or kumquat salsa, regular or hot.

And, who can forget the kumquat wine?

But, even those who aren’t particularly enamored with kumquats — there were plenty of other ways to enjoy the festival.

There was a quilt show, a car show, lots of vendor booths and a chance to be out and about — during an event that was delayed and scaled-back this year, to reduce potential risks from the  COVID-19 pandemic.

Published April 07, 2021

Barbara Mallory arranges bottles of Kumquat wine available under the tent from Sunrise Rotary Club of Dade City. Mallory, the club’s past president, was among eight club members selling the 750-milliliter bottles. The wine is 20% kumquat and 80% white grape, according to Mallory, selling for $15 per bottle.
Four-year-old Chloe Barner looks approvingly at the handiwork of Melissa Perez, an artist from Spring Hill. The little girl was at the Kumquat Festival with her 8-year-old sister, Khalani Colbert-Belle, and with her grandmother, Andrea Colbert. They live in Dade City.
Eighty-six-year-old Frank Gude is Mr. Kumquat. The St. Joe man has been around kumquat trees since he was a kid and can tell you anything you want to know about the tiny citrus fruit. Citrus greening had an impact on the crop this year, he said. ‘Only 60 bushels made it to the Kumquat Festival this year. That’s roughly 3,000 pounds.’
Brock Smith was 7 years old when he began developing an interest in bees, hives and honey. Now, he sells orange, kumquat and wildflower honey.
Plastic safety sheathing separates the public from the Kumquat Growers’ workers. Joe Gude, left, and Mike Liptak, right, both of Dade City, fill bags of Nagami-type kumquats for festival-goers who want to take some home.

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