rare fruit & vegetable council

The following links are provided as a service to our visitors. The RFVC is not affiliated with the following companies and does not endorse any particular product or service associated with these links.

 

Non-Profit Organizations

California Rare Fruit Growers
http://www.crfg.org/
Founded in 1968, the California Rare Fruit Growers is the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world. Its membership includes nationally recognized botanical gardens and noted international horticultural researchers, as well as hobbyists, commercial growers and representatives from institutions of higher learning. 

International Center For Underused Crops
http://www.icuc-iwmi.org/ 
The International Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC) is a global research, development and training organisation. It provides expertise and acts as a knowledge hub for tropical, sub-tropical and temperate plant development. Since its inception in 1992, ICUC has supported research on national priorities for germplasm collections, agronomy and post-harvest methodology of underutilised species and associated scientific conferences and training events. More recently, our focus has expanded to include processing and marketing assessments and training to local people.

Israeli Exotic Fruit Association
http://www.exoticfruit.co.il/en/ 
The Israeli Exotic Fruit Society was established in 1989.We currently have 400 members from all over the country who represent almost every facet of our multicultural and multiethnic society. What we all have in common is a love of exotic and rare fruits. Some of us are professional growers who live on the land, others have a small backyard orchard or garden, while others live in high rise apartment buildings and just simply appreciate these wonderful fruits. 

Rare Fruit Council International, Inc.
http://tropicalfruitnews.org/ 
Founded in 1955 with headquarters in Miami, Florida, dedicated to the education, introduction, and promotion of rare tropical fruits. Through close ties with botanical collections and horticultural research centers worldwide, the RFCI has become a major international source of information regarding tropical fruits. The RFCI has introduced species or varieties of rare fruits into many parts of the world. In addition, the RFCI has been helpful in establishing the tropical fruit industry in the United States.

Quisqualis
http://www.quisqualis.com/ 
Quisqualis.com is an educational web site that promotes the growing, conservation and usage of rare fruit and edibles throughout the world with an emphasis on the tropics. 

The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc.
http://www.rarefruit.org/
Founded on December 3, 1978, in Temple Terrace, Florida, the Tampa Bay Rare Fruit Council is a not-for-profit service and education oriented organization. Our membership includes amateurs and professionals, novices and long-term gardeners, young and the not-so young. We all learn from each other and encourage members to share their experiences, knowledge, and enthusiasm about growing exotic rare fruit edibles. 

Texas Rare Fruit Group
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/txrarefruitgrowers/ 
Founded in August, 2007. We are a group of fruit growers that range from apartment dwellers growing in containers to commercial nursery growers and commercial u-pick operators. We have a wide range of experience and knowledge. 

 

References

 

Freeze damage 1940 S.J. Lynch
http://www.fshs.org/Proceedings/Password%20Protected/1940%20Vol.%2053/192-194%20(LYNCH).pdf
The Effects of the Cold On Tropical & Sub-Tropical Plants. 

Freeze Damage 1957-58 R. Bruce Ledin
http://www.fshs.org/Proceedings/Password%20Protected/1958%20Vol.%2071/341-344%20(LEDIN).pdf 
The Numerous Cold Spells of the Winter of 1957-58 provided an opportunity to evaulate the hardiness of some Tropical & Sub-Tropical Fruit Plants.

Freeze Damage 1977 C.W. Campbell, R.J. Knight Jr., N.L. Zareski
http://fshs.org/Proceedings/Password%20Protected/1977%20Vol.%2090/254-257%20(CAMPBELL).pdf 
On January 19 and 20, 1977, southern Florida experienced a severe freeze, with temperatures below 32°F for 13 hours or more and minima in the mid to low 20's. Major damage was done to tropical fruit plants in most locations on the mainland. Systematic observations of cold iniury were made in the plant collections of the University of Florida AREC, Homestead, the USDA SHRU, Miami, the Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, and in private collections of many members of the Rare Fruit Council International. Data on more than 200 species and cultivars are presented in tabular form for the use of persons interested in growing tropical fruits in Florida. 

Freeze Protection of Tropical Fruit Crops in Florida
http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/doc/extension2008-09/Cold-Protection-2008.pdf 
The most up to date information on how to protect your cold sensitive tropical fruits
Dr. Jonathan H. Crane, Tropical Fruit Crops Specialist UF IFAS, 2008 

Fruits of Warm Climates
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/index.html The handbook for tropical and subtropical rare fruits. Julia F. Morton, 1987 
Julia F. Morton, Research Professor of Biology and Director of the Morton Collectanea, University of Miami, a research and information center devoted to economic botany. She received her D.Sc. from Florida State University in 1973 and was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1974. She has conducted extensive field studies for the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, has served as horticultural development consultant in Florida and tropical America, and, since 1954, has been consultant for the Poison Control Centers in Florida. In 1978, she was selected as the First Distinguished Economic Botanist by the international Society for Economic Botany. She served as President of the Florida State Horticultural Society in 1979. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, and of the Board of Directors of the Florida National Parks and Monuments Association. She is the author of 10 books and co-author of or contributor to 12 others; has written 94 scientific papers and co-authored 27 others; has produced 2 full-color wall charts of poisonous plants; a set of Survival Cards for Southeast Asia and a 157-page report on the Survival-related Flora and Fauna of the Mekong for the U.S. Department of Defense. She is well known as a lecturer on toxic, edible and otherwise useful plants.

Utilizing Climate and Weather
http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/doc/extension2008-09/Utilizing-climate-and-weather-2008.pdf 
How to prepare for cold events in our area. 
Dr. Jonathan H. Crane, Tropical Fruit Crops Specialist UF IFAS, 2008 

Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH021
Site Preparation, Pest Management, Planting Guide, Suggested Varieties for Florida Gardens, Tips, etc. 
J.M. Stephens, Sydney Park Brown, Danielle Treadwell, Susan Webb, Amanda Gevens, R.A. Dunn, G. Kidder, D. Short, and G.W. Simone, UF IFAS, 2009

Growing Fruit Crops In Containers
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG24300.pdf
People frequently want to grow some types of fruit trees in containers, because of poor soil, improper climate or lack of sufficient space. Fortunately, a wide variety of fruit trees can be grown in containers with some degree of success. Larry K. Jackson and Jeffrey G. Williamson, UF IFAS, 2004
 

More Reference Links to Care of Tropical and Semi-Tropical Fruits in Florida:*

A valuable tool to join the Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council of Broward County; find reference materials, see what’s going on locally and link to a world of additional information! Join Now!

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (IFAS) Extension:
Fruit and Vegetable A-Z Index

Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Crops for the Home Landscape: Alternatives to Citrus
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg373

Tropical Fruit for the Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_home_tropical_fruit

Abiu Growing in the Florida Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs300

Ackee Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs378

Atemoya Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg332

Banana Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg040

Barbados Cherry Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg041

Black Sapote Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs305

Caimito (Star-Apple) Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs309

Canistel Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs299

Carambola Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg269

Cashew Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs377

Cocao Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs307

Coconut Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg043

Coffee Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs306

Jackfruit Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg370

Jaboticaba Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg335

Macadamia Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg052

Mamoncillo (Genip) Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs310

Mango Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG216

Monstera Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs311

Papaya Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg054

Passion Fruit Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg328

Pajibaye (Peach Palm) Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs312

Pitaya Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs303

Tea Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs308

White Sapote Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs304

Subtropical Fruit for the Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_home_subtropical_fruit

Avocado Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg213

Guava Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg045

Longan Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg049

Loquat Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg050

Lychee Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg051

Pomegranate Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg056

Sapodilla Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg057

Preparing for and Recovering from Hurricanes & Windstorms
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_hs322

Pruning and Training Deciduous Fruit Trees for the Dooryard
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_mg345

Other Good References:*

Dry Your Own Macs!
http://www.quisqualis.com/tv02macdry.html

Developing and pruning the Muscadine Vine
http://www.isons.com/pdf/developing_pruning_muscadine_vine.pdf

Muscadine cultivation
http://www.isons.com/muscadine_cultivation.htm

History of the Muscadine Grape

Information Grid for Muscadine varieties with commercial ratings
http://www.isons.com/rating.htm

Blueberry Cultivation
http://www.isons.com/blueberry_cultivation.htm

Blueberries for Florida
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS215

Blackberry/Raspberry Cultivation
http://www.isons.com/berry_cultivation.htm

Longans
http://www.montosogardens.com/dimocarpus_longan.htm

*A special thanks to RFVC member Gene Eubank (Plant Sales) for compiling this list

 

Rare Fruit and Vegetable Sources

Caliman International
http://www.caliman.com.br/ingles/index.asp
These pages describe the health benefits of Papaya as well as some interesting recipes. 

Cross Country Nurseries
http://www.chileplants.com/ 
The largest selection of Chile and Sweet Pepper plants. Site contains a huge database with pictures and descriptions of the plants. 

Fruit Lovers Nursery
http://www.fruitlovers.com/
Specialist's in real rare tropical fruits and fruit seeds. 

Tradewinds Fruit
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm
Tropical fruit seed source

Garden of Delights
http://www.gardenofdelights.com/

We would like to thank the following companies for providing donations of seeds in previous years:

Territorial Seed Company
http://www.territorialseed.com

Johnny's Select Seeds
http://www.johnnyseeds.com

Seeds of Change
http://www.seedsofchange.com

The Cook's Garden
http://www.cooksgarden.com

Growing Supply Sources

Arbor Grow
http://www.arborgrow.com/
Al Will's website."A Revolutionary Evolution in the Agricultural Industry."
Agricultural consulting and wholesale organic growing supplies.

 

Old RFVC Newsletters from the 1980s

August 1986