Pejibaye Gives Flavor to Festival

PEJIBAYE soup, ice cream and flanare just a few of the products made outof palm fruit offered today through Nov.7 at the Pejibaye Festival in Tucurrique,Cartago, considered the pejibaye capitalof Costa Rica.The festival celebrates the peak ofthe pejibaye season, which begins inAugust and lasts until December.The festival also includes games,cultural activities and horseback riding.Pejibaye palms are native to CostaRica and have been cultivated extensivelyfor more than 500 years, accordingto the Ministry of Agriculture.The fruit, about the size of an apricot,varies in color from yellow to deeporange when ripe, and has a creamy,nutty flavor.