The California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. (CRFG) is a non-profit organization of rare exotic fruit enthusiasts,

hobbyist A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. Hobbies include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports, or pursuing other ...

s and

amateur An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, autodidacticism, self-taught, user-generated, do it yourself, DI ...

horticulturists Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

based in California. The CRFG, founded in 1968, promotes rare fruits in the

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

marketplace, according to a 1997 article in the ''Seasonal Chef'' online newsletter. As of 2008 the CRFG has 3,000 members in approximately 35 countries with 20 Chapters in Western US.

History

The California Rare Fruit Growers was co-founded by

Paul Thomson Paul Robert Thomson (born 15 September 1976) is a Scottish musician who was the drummer for the Glasgow-based band Franz Ferdinand from their formation in 2002 until October 2021. Biography Thomson has always been interested in music, able ...

and John Riley in 1968. Thomson was a self-taught botanist and fruit farmer based in San Diego's North County, while Riley was an

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...

with Lockheed from

Santa Clara, California Santa Clara ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for "Clare of Assisi, Saint Clare") is a city in Santa Clara County, California. The city's population was 127,647 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities and towns i ...

. Both Thomson and Riley shared an enthusiasm for rare fruits and plants which had not been previously widely cultivated in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Riley and Thomson soon began collaborating to publish a newsletter on tropical and subtropical fruits using a

mimeograph machine A mimeograph machine (often abbreviated to mimeo, sometimes called a stencil duplicator or stencil machine) is a low-cost duplicating machines, duplicating machine that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper. The process is called ...

. In 1968 they expanded operations to found the CRFG. Membership was swelled by a rapid influx of newcomers to California who were "without prejudice to what could not be grown" in the state.

Mission statement

To encourage and foster public and scientific interest, research, education in and the preservation of rare fruit plants that have edible seeds, fruits, leaves, stems or roots and are not commonly grown commercially. The furtherance and encouragement of these activities shall be for the benefit of the public rather than commercial interests.

What is rare fruit?

A fruit is considered to be rare because it is: * Not normally grown in a particular area or climatic zone. * Scarce or about to be extinct. * Of unusual properties, such as the miracle fruit which changes the sense of taste. * A new species that have recently been introduced or discovered. * A species that has not been grown commercially.

Publication

The CRFG publishes a bimonthly magazine called ''The Fruit Gardener'', an outgrowth of the early newsletters published by Thomson and Riley.

Annual meeting

CRFG members and the public meets every year to celebrate the Festival of Fruit, an event organized by different chapters. This event includes seminars, workshops, local tours and plant sales.

References

External links

California Rare Fruit Growers
{{Authority control Horticultural organizations based in the United States Clubs and societies in California Gardens in California Nonprofit hobbyist organizations based in the United States Non-profit organizations based in California Organizations established in 1968 1968 establishments in California