June Meeting - Dr. Manjul Dutt - The Finger Lime: Citrus Caviar.

 Join us Monday, June 13th, 2022 at 7 PM 

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

Speaker: Dr. Manjul Dutt

Title: The Finger Lime: Citrus Caviar

The finger lime (Citrus australasica), native to Australia is a thorny understory shrub producing finger-shaped fruit that contain compressed juice vesicles which tend to burst out when cut. These tart lime flavored juice vesicles have been termed as “citrus caviar” and are gaining popularity in restaurants as a garnish and as a component in mixed drinks. This presentation will outline the development of exciting new varieties that should be of interest to both commercial growers and home gardeners alike.  

Dr. Manjul Dutt received his PhD degree from the University of Florida and his MS from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Dutt is currently employed as a research scientist at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, FL. The main emphasis of his research is on the development of breeding and molecular strategies to combat Huanglongbing, an often fatal disease of citrus. Conventional breeding strategies include the insertion of HLB resistance genes from the citrus relatives (both wild and cultivated) into conventional citrus for the development of HLB resistant scions and rootstocks. His molecular research is focused on the utilization of Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) to develop HLB tolerance.

Tropical Fruit Society of Sarasota Ceases Operation

The Tropical Fruit Society of Sarasota (TFSS) has closed its doors.

The Society was formed in 2012 when the longstanding Sarasota Fruit and Nut Society split into TFSS and the Suncoast Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Club based in Nokomis.

The inability to find new officers and other volunteers prompted the dissolution of TFSS. Reliable sources report that the Suncoast club has also ceased operation, although we have not seen any public notice of this.

TFSS conducted a sale of its accumulated tree sale and other gear on April 23. The Society’s funds will be donated to the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL.

For those interested in local organizations supporting local home growers of tropical fruit, the TFSS Board highly recommends the Manatee Rare Fruit Council. Another local organization to consider is the Sarasota Tropical Fruit Gardening Meetup, though it is currently not very active.

May 2022 Meeting - Sean Moore - Green Leaf Worm Farm

 Join us Monday, May 9th, 2022 at 7 PM -  Sean Moore from Green Leaf Worm Farm who will speak about “The Amazing Earthworm”. He will also answer questions about worm castings, worm tea and biochar.

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

Annual Tree Sale - Saturday May 7th - Rain or Shine

The Wait is Over...

It's the biggest.  It's the best.  And it only happens once a year!

The MRFC Annual Fruit Tree Sale is tomorrow - RAIN or SHINE!

WHEN:  Saturday, May 7th, 2022 •  9 AM - 3 PM

WHERE:  Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd, Lakewood Ranch, FL  34211

 

The venue is outdoors, so please make sure to bring what you need to stay cool and protected from the sun.  The sale site is a huge open area (225 feet by 650 feet) that will provide plenty of room for our vendors and customers to spread out. The facility has ample parking and restrooms.

WHO:  A selection of the best vendors in central and south Florida. Vendors will bring the best stock available that is suitable for growing conditions in this part of Florida.  Arrive early for the best selection.

Vendors will be accepting payment directly for their own sales -- and many will be accepting credit cards, but it's best to bring cash just in case, so that you don't miss out on your favorite must-have trees.  There will be no ATM available at the site.

Make sure to bring your cart or wheelbarrow, if you have one, to make it easier to move about the site.  There is no "Holding Area" this year.  If you need a plant held, please ask individual vendors about their policy.

Please visit the Manatee Rare Fruit Council table to ask your fruit growing questions and to talk about MRFC membership.

 There will also be fertilizer, t-shirts, and copies of the MRFC fruit cookbook available for purchase.

We hope to see you at this year's Rare Tree Sale!

Come early for the best selection and bring a wagon or cart, if you have one, to help carry your plants as you shop.

We're never sure what plants our vendors will bring, but there will be thousands of trees and other plants that have been selected to perform well in Central Florida.

Each year our sale is a huge success. This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase fruit trees, meet other fruit growers, and even join the MRFC.