CLASSES
MEMBER MEETINGS
Meetings will be virtual and begin at 7pm 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: Michael Kilpatrick
Topic: Turmeric and Ginger Farming
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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