CLASSES
MEMBER MEETINGS
Meetings will be virtual and begin at 7 pm unless an exception is noted. Event links will be sent to current members prior to the meeting.
Upcoming 2024 Speakers
Date/Time: Monday, January 13th 2024 @ 7pm via Zoom
Speaker: TBD
Topic: TBD
Classes + Events
Throughout the year we host on site workshops to teach members about methods to propogate, grow, care for rare tropical plants/trees. Classes are free for members or $35 for non-members.
Upcoming Events:
PREVIOUS EVENTS
2024
January 08, Almudena Gudiel, Chef & Owner of Gables Delight. Her topic is “Gourmet Jams & Jellies”
February 12 - Dr. Amanda Pike, Co-owner of Jupiter Farms. Topic: "Designing Food Forests"
March 11- Rich Ackerman- Topic: "All About Vanilla"
April 08 - Noel Ramos - Topic: "Best Practices on How to Grow Fruit Trees"
May 13 - Richard Siegel Topic: "Pineapples"
July 08- David Harold- Topic: "Growing Mangoes in South Florida for the Homeowner"
August 12 - Amir Rezazadeh Topic: " Growing Jackfruits in South Florida"
September 09 - Myriam Masihy "Growing Winter Vegetables in South Florida "
October 13 - Paul Nison- Topic "Selecting the Right Fruit Trees to Live a Healthy Life"
November 12 - Jessica Johnson - Topic " Dragon Fruits"
2023
Feb 13 | Brenda Marty-Jimenez, UF/IFAS Extension, Broward Extension, "Florida Cottage Food Law"
March 13 | Dr. William Kern, Assoc Prof, Dept of Entomology UF "Insects Affecting Tropical Fruit Trees"
April 11 | Alexander Salazar, Tropical Acres Farms, "New Zill Cultivars fro Broward County in 2023"
May 8 | Chris Wenzel of Truly Tropical, "Best Mangos for South Florida Backyards"
June 12 | Dr. Samuel (Sumter Country), “Tropical & Warm Weather Vegetables”
Sept 12 | Jeff Wasielewski, UF/IFAS Extension, Broward Extension, "Growing Finger Limes in South Florida"
October 9 | Tiare Silvasy, UF/IFAS, Hillsborough County, “Fall Vegetable Gardening”.
November 13 | Pamela Dutra, Post-doc Researcher at UF/IFAS. Topic: "Dragon Fruit in South FL Overcoming Challenges & Cultivating Success”.
2022
Jan 10 | Clifton Middleton, “Clifton’s Organic Gardening World”
Feb 14 | Bobby Biswa, “Introduction to Fruits of Borneo, Thailand and India”
Mar 14 | Noris Ledesma, “ Florida Mango Heritage”
April 11 | Karim Rossy, "Sub-Tropical & Tropical Fruits of South Florida”
May 16 | James Farwell, Farwell Fruit Farm, Fort Meyers. "Plinia (Jaboticaba) & Myrciaria”
July 9 | Cynthia Schaefer “Foodsteading, how to grow abundant food”
August 8 | Jeff Wasielewski, UF/IFAS Homestead, Commercial Tropical Fruit Ext. Agent, “Pruning Fruit Trees”
Sept.12 | Amy Vu, UF IFAS Gainesville, Extension Agent Apiculture, "Honey Bee Research/Beekeeping"
Oct 10 | “Winter Vegetable Gardening”
Nov 14 | Noel Ramos, Topic: Garcinias
Dec 12 | Holiday Pot Luck, Hawaiian Themed
2021
January 11 | Documentary, "Seed: The Untold Story"
February 8 | Alex Salazar, Owner, Tropical Acres Farm, WPB, "The Sapotaceae Family of Fruit Trees"
March 8 | Dr. Richard Campbell, Mango Men, "Creating an Estate Mango Orchard in South Florida"
April 12 | Erin Wilson, President RFCI, "Tropical Fruit Based Cocktails"
May 10 | Ken Love, Chef, Fruit Hunter Grower in Hawaii, "Fruits of Hawaii"
June 14 | Pauline Haydock & Erin Cannings, Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery, Australia, "Subtropical Fruits of Australia"
August 9 | Patrick B. Garvey, owner and director of Grimal Grove, Big Pine Key, FL, "Grimal Grove and the Wonderful World of Breadfruit"
Sept 13 | Marsha Eisenberg, "How to Grow Heirloom Tomatoes in South Florida"
Oct 11 | Jason Long, owner Tree Amigos Growers, Davie FL, "Organic Vegetable Gardening for South Florida"
Nov 8 | Steven Murray, fruit explorer from Californi, "Steven Murray's Journey with Exotic Fruit"
2020
January 13, 2020 | Lorna Bravo | IFAS Broward County Extension Office Rain Barrel Program
February 11, 2020 | Dr. Alan Chambers | UF/IFAS - Vanilla Bean
March 9, 2020 |Cynthia Schaffer | Are You Weeding What You Should Be Eatting?
September 14, 2020 |Samuel Chillaron, UF/IFAS Extention Homstead - Broward | Florida Friendly Vegetable Gardening, Best Practices & Vegetables for South Florida
October 12, 2020 | Noel Ramos, Tropical Fruit Collector | Jackfruit and Other Incredible Artocarpus Species
November 16, 2020 | Sarah Brewer, UF/IFAS Homestead | Breeding a Better Papya for South Florida
December 14, 2020 | Dr. Danielle Treadwell, UF/IFAS Gainesville | Organic Principles for Home Gardens
2019
January 8, 2019 | Documentary | Seed: The Untold Story
February 11, 2019 | Vivian Landix | Composting and Compost Tea Basics
March 11, 2019 | Noel Ramos | The Fruit Hunters, A History of a Few Brave Collectors
March 16 + 17, 2019 | GardenFest Extravaganza | Plant Sales, enjoy nature seminars, food + music
April 6 + 7, 2019 | RFVC Spring Plant Sale | Day 1 + 2
April 8, 2019 | Chris Wenzel of Truly Tropical | Best Mangoes for South Florida Dooryards
May 13, 2019 | Juliane Miklos | Get Spicy with Ginger and Tumeric
June 10, 2019 | Annual Birthday Bash | Celbrating the Fruits of the Season
June 1, 2019 | Class: David Harold | Air Layering Class
July 8, 2019 | Dr. Jonathan Crane, UF/IFAS | Lychee Flowering
August 12, 2019 | Dr. Matt Snow, RFVC Miami | Jackfruits
September 9, 2019 | Marsha Eisenberg | Tomatos
October 14, 2019 | Gabi Serra | Herbalism
November 13, 2019 | Karin Fields | Edible Gardening
December 9, 2019 | Annual Holiday Party & Member Potluck
2018
January 8, 2018 | Noel Ramos | Best Fruits for South Florida
February 12, 2018 | Har Mahdeem | Selecting, Purchasing + Planting Fruit Trees
March 12, 2018 | Dr. Alina Puig, USDA ARS | Diseases Affecting Theobroma Cacao ‘The Chocolate Tree’
April 9, 2018 | Dr Jonathan Crane, UF TREC | Carambolas + Avocados. Laurel Wilt disease in South Florida
April 21, 2018 | Class: Murray Corman + David Harold | Fertilizer 101
May 14, 2018 | Jason Long, Tree Amigos Farm | Organic Gardening
June 2, 2018 | Class: David Harold + Karim Rossy | Air Layering Part 1
June 11, 2018 | RFVC Annual End of Season Party
July 9, 2018 | Alex Salizar, Tropical Acre Farms | Mangos
August 13, 2018 | John Caldwell, Beekeeper | Backyard Micro-Epiary Program
September 15, 2018 | Class: David Harold + Karim Rossy | Air Layering Part 2
October 8, 2018 | Cynthia Schaffer, South Florida Edible Landscaping and Sustainable Living | Creating an Edible and Medicinal Garden
October 20 + 21, 2018 | 43rd Annual Fall Plant Sale
Saturday November 10, 2018 | Margaret Basile | Vegetable Gardening Class
** Cancelled** Monday November 12, 2018 | Equistito Chocolates, NMB | From Bean to Bar.
December 1, 2018 | Margaret Basile | Vegetable Cooking Class
December 8, 2018 | Sal Otenwalder | Avocado Grafting
December 10, 2018 | Annual Holiday Party & Member Potluck
2017
January 9, 2017 | Jorge Zaldivar | Guavas
February 15, 2017 | Chris Rollins | Fruits of Southeast Asia
March 13, 2017 | Erik Tietig | Advancements in the Use of Miracle Fruit for the Treatment of
Taste Alterations in Oncology Patients
April 10, 2017 | Noel Ramos | Coffee
May 8, 2017 | John Coldwell, The Urban Beekeepers Apiary Supply & Management | Beekeeping and Pollination Benefits of Bees
July 10, 2017 | Craig Morell | The Kampong and its Role as a Center For Rare Fruits &
Dr. Fairchild's Role in Exploring for New Species and Varieties
August 14, 2017 | Dr. Matt Snow | Growing, Fruiting and Harvesting Jackfruit
August 19, 2017 | Class by David Harold & Karim Rossy | Air Layering Part I
September 11, 2017 | Marsha Eisenberg | Heirloom Tomatoes
October 9, 2017 | OPEN MOVIE NIGHT | TBD, possibly 'Seeds'
November 4, 2017 | Class by Margaret Basile | Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds
November 13, 2017 | Dr Peter Steele | Medicinal Gardening in South Florida
December 2, 2017 | Class by Margaret Basile | Vegetable Cooking
December 11, 2017 | RFVC Annual Member Holiday Party + Potluck
2016
January 11, 2016 | Noel Ramos | Mangos of South Florida
February 8, 2016 | Chris Rollins | Success with Tropicals in South Florida
March 14, 2016 | Jim Stribling | Fruit and Spice Park Master Plan
April 11, 2016 | Mike Winterstein | USDA-ARS Miami Mangos
April 23, 2016 | Annual Spring Plant Sale | Day 1
April 24, 2016 | Annual Spring Plant Sale | Day 2
May 9, 2016 | Matt Snow | Lychees & Longans
June 13, 2016 | RFVC Annual End of Season Party |
July 11, 2016 | Harry Hausman | Mangos
August 8, 2016 | Julian Lara, Lara Farms | Mamey Sapotes
September 12, 2016 | Dylan Terry, Ready to Grow Gardens | Grow Vegetable & Herbs
September 17, 2016 | Class by Margaret Basile at 208 | Hands on Gardening
October 10, 2016 | Har Madeem | Plant Nutrition
October 22, 2016 | FALL PLANT SALE | Day 1
October 23, 2016 | FALL PLANT SALE | Day 2
November 12, 2016 | Class by Sal Ottenwalder at 208 | Air Layering Part II
November 14, 2016 | Mike Hechart, Wicked Mike's | Hot Peppers
December 12, 2016 | RFVC Annual Member Holiday Party + Potluck
2015
February 2, 2015 | Julian Lara, Lara Farms | Tropical Fruit Growers Association
Various Seasonal Fruits - Papayas, Black Sapote + more TBA.
March 9, 2015 | Noel Ramos | The Amazing Artocarpus Fruits (Jaks and Breadfruits)
April 6, 2015 | Har Mahdeem | The Sapotaceae Family (Sapodilla, Caimito, Mamey Sapote, Miracle Fruit, Green Sapote, Abiu)
April 24, 2015 | Annual Spring Sale | Day 1
April 25, 2015 | Annual Spring Sale | Day 2
May 4, 2015 | Matt Snow | Pitayas
June 1, 2015 | RFVC Annual End of Season Party
July 6, 2015 | Murray Corman, Garden of Delights | Tropical Fruits of the Caribbean
August 10, 2015 | Jonathan Crane | Myanmar’s Emerging Avocado Industry + A Tropical Fruit Tour
September 14, 2015 | Kevin Quigley of Criswell Farms | Winter Vegetable Garden
October 12, 2015 | Rob Carew & Rose Butman | Irrigation 101
November 9, 2015 | Chari Blissett-Clark, Florida Bat Conservancy | Bats
December 14, 2015 | RFVC Annual Holiday Party
2014
January 6, 2014 | Dr. John Pipoly | Extension Service Update and Current Plant Pests.
January 25, 2014 | Crafton Cliff | Members Grafting Class
February 3, 2014 | Dr. Matthew Snow | Avocados
March 3, 2014 | Mango Movie Night | The Fruit Hunters w/ Bill Pullman and notable local Mango Kings
April 7, 2014 | Supreme Growers | Organic Gardening Products
May 5, 2014 | Rose Bechard-Butman, Master Gardener | Pruning of Tropical Fruit Trees
June 2, 2014 | RFVC End of Year Party | Plus: Harold Morgenstern's Birthday Party
July 7, 2014 | Whole Foods Cooking with Mangos
August 4, 2014 | Har Madeem | Soursops and Related Fruit
September 3, 2014 | John Herring | Bee Keeping
October 16, 2014 | Farmer Jay | Vegetable Gardening
2013
February 4, 2013 | Marcus Thomson, Permaculture Miami - Sustainability | Urban Gardening
April 1, 2013 | Noel Ramos | Puerto Rico Safari #2 Summer 2012
April 4, 2013 | Adrian Hunsberger, UF Urban Horticulture | Tropical Fruit Tree Pests
May 6, 2013 | Erik Tietig, Pine Island Nursery | New tropical fruits and cultivars in production in South Florida
June 6, 2013 | RFVC Annual End of Season Party
July 1, 2013 | Carlos Balerdi, Retired Extension Agent, Miami-Dade County | All About Mammeys
August 5, 2013 | Bob Brennan, Arborist, Fairchild Tropical Gardens | Fruit Tree Pruning for Hurricane Season
September 9, 2013 | Harr Mahdeem | Annonas
October 7, 2013 | Elain Farquarson | Tomatoes
November 4, 2013 | Jessica McLeary | Canning
December 2, 2013 | RFVC Annual Member Holiday Potluck + Party | Taking place at Treetops Park
2012
January 4, 2012 | Short Movie | Lychee Thieves + guest from Battens Farmers Market Agri-Tourism Center
February 6, 2012 | Noel Ramos | Tropical Fruit Safari from Puerto Rico
March 5, 2012 | Gene Joyner, ‘Plant Doctor’ | Pests and Nutritional Problems
April 2, 2012 | Murray Corman, Garden of Delights | Plant Toxicities
May 7, 2012 | Bill Mee | Lychees
June 7, 2012 | RFVC Annual End of Season Party
July 7, 2012 | Harry Hausman | Mangos
September 5, 2012 | Steve Cucura, Owner of Fruitscapes, Inc. | Tropical Fruits of Pine Island
October 2, 2012 | Dr. Richard Campbell, Senior Curator at Fairchild Tropical Gardens | Best Tropical Plants + Fruits for Broward County
October 6, 2012 | Margaret Basile | Winter Vegetable Gardening
November 5, 2012 | Chris Rollins, Director, Fruit & Spice Park | Tropical Vegetables.
December 3, 2012 | RFVC Annual Member Holiday Potluck + Party
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