May Meeting - Har Mahdeem - Annonas

May Meeting - Har Mahdeem - Annonas

Meeting Date/Time: Monday, May 12th, 2026, 7pm

Location: Harlee Building/County Fairgrounds, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221

Our May Speaker

From the Program Committee

Noted tropical fruit expert Har Mahdeem returns to our club with a presentation on annonas. Bring your questions about this fascinating family of rare fruits-- the one on the MRFC logo!

Har has an entire lifetime of experience with tropical fruit. He grew up in the Amazon region consuming rare jungle fruits and later worked with the famous Zill nursery on their annona breeding program and various germplasm collection trips. Currently he owns a tropical fruit grove and dooryard consulting business specializing in plant nutrition, pruning, grafting/top working and education. Elsewhere in this newsletter is some additional biographical information about Har, gathered by our energetic article writer Claude.

Be sure to check out Har’s many Youtube videos that provide extensive practical advice on tropical fruit horticulture.

🌱🌺🍍🌿

Please bring fruit for the tasting table and/or plants to donate for the raffle (no citrus plants, please). Don’t forget to collect a free raffle ticket for your donation. Your participation is very much needed and appreciated.

A friendly reminder: If you bring a plant, please label what it is. Also, write your name and the plant on the Raffle list. If you win a plant, please put your name next to the plant on the Raffle list.

Meetings are not recorded. First time visitors are welcome! Become a member for only $12. Join online or at a monthly meeting. https://www.mrfc.org/p/become-member.html

April Meeting - Mark Bailey - Mulberries

April Meeting - Mark Bailey - Mulberries

Meeting Date/Time: 

Monday, April 13th, 2026, 7pm

Location: Harlee Building/County Fairgrounds, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221

Our April Speaker

Our planned speaker on mulberries for April had to cancel her presentation. MRFC member Darryl McCullough was planning to fill in, speaking on avocados. However, friend of the club Mark Bailey has agreed to speak to us Monday about mulberries. And he plans to bring some mulberry cuttings for us! Darryl will speak on avocados later in the year.

Mark is the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Extension agent for Marion County. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors in Entomology and Nematology, and received a Masters in Plant Protection and Pest Management from the University of Georgia. An extension agent for more than ten years, he works to develop sustainable local food systems. His specializations include entomology, plant pathology, edible landscaping, and agricultural entrepreneurship. At home he grows hundreds of fruit trees, which include varieties of citrus, persimmons, passion fruit, and mulberries.

Mark gave us an excellent presentation on persimmons last November. Don’t miss Monday's talk on another cold-tolerant species that grows well in our region.