California Rare Fruit Growers

California Rare Fruit Growers
Name	California Rare Fruit Growers
Founded	1968
Founder	Paul A. Tukey
Type	Nonprofit
Location	California
Area served	United States
Focus	Horticulture, Pomology, Biodiversity

California Rare Fruit Growers

California Rare Fruit Growers is a nonprofit horticultural organization founded in 1968 that promotes the cultivation, preservation, and study of uncommon fruit species and cultivars. The organization connects home gardeners, professional horticulturists, botanists, and agricultural researchers across California, the United States, and international partners such as those in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Through regional chapters, publications, and trials, the group advances applied pomology knowledge and supports cultivar exchange among enthusiasts and institutions.

History

The organization originated in the late 1960s amid renewed public interest in specialty crops and backyard fruit production, coinciding with agricultural developments in California and plant exploration linked to institutions like the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of California, Berkeley. Early members included amateur growers and professional pomologists who corresponded with botanical collectors associated with the Arnold Arboretum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. During the 1970s and 1980s the group expanded in parallel with movements tied to the Slow Food movement and the rise of specialty markets in cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, collaborating informally with botanical gardens including the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

Mission and Activities

The organization’s mission emphasizes preservation of genetic diversity and practical guidance for cultivating nontraditional fruit in climates ranging from the Mediterranean climate of coastal California to the colder zones researched by members in the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast United States. Activities include cultivar trials, propagation workshops, scion and seed exchanges, and advisory outreach to institutions like the California Rare Fruit Growers-aligned botanical trial gardens, university extension services such as the University of California Cooperative Extension, and botanical conservatories. The group’s work intersects with conservation projects at organizations such as the Global Crop Diversity Trust and collaborates with plant collectors who have ties to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Membership and Chapters

Membership comprises a mix of hobbyists, professional fruit growers, academic researchers, and extension specialists. Local and regional chapters operate in areas that include the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, the Sacramento Valley, and states beyond California including Oregon, Washington (state), and Florida. Chapters host meetings at venues such as county fairgrounds, arboreta, and university campuses like the University of California, Davis and coordinate with organizations such as the California Native Plant Society when projects overlap. International liaison occurs with counterparts in Australia and New Zealand through shared cultivar trials and seed swaps.

Events and Publications

The organization produces periodicals, newsletters, and monographs documenting varietal performance, propagation techniques, pest management strategies, and culinary uses. Annual or biennial conferences bring speakers from institutions like the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for pest diagnostics, researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and horticulturalists associated with the Royal Horticultural Society. Local chapters run grafting clinics, fruit tastings, and scion exchanges often advertised through platforms connected to botanical societies and agricultural fairs such as the California State Fair and the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s community programs.

Research, Conservation, and Education

The organization supports applied research on species ranging from temperate pome fruits and stone fruits to subtropical and tropical species such as loquats and persimmons, collaborating with academic programs at the University of California, Riverside and the University of Florida on cold-hardiness and pest resistance trials. Conservation efforts include maintaining living collections and coordinating germplasm exchange protocols compatible with repositories like the National Plant Germplasm System and regional seed banks. Educational outreach targets school garden programs, community horticulture initiatives, and master gardener networks associated with the University of California Master Gardener Program.

Notable Collections and Trials

Members and partner institutions curate notable collections of rare and heirloom cultivars, including cold-hardy citrus trials, unique mango and avocado selections, and experimental selections of Asian pear cultivars. Trial sites have been established in microclimates such as coastal fog belts near Santa Cruz and inland valleys like the Central Valley (California), enabling comparative data on flowering time, fruit set, and disease susceptibility. Collections have been displayed at botanical institutions including the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens and regional arboreta, contributing accession data to herbarium partners like the Jepson Herbarium.

Impact and Outreach

Through cultivar preservation, public education, and collaboration with research institutions, the organization has influenced home gardening trends, specialty agriculture markets, and the conservation of lesser-known fruit genetic resources. Outreach efforts include partnerships with culinary organizations, farmers’ markets in cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, and media coverage in horticultural publications linked to the Royal Horticultural Society and the American Horticultural Society. Collectively, these activities have helped inform sustainable horticultural practices and maintain diversity in cultivars available to gardeners and small-scale producers.

Category:Horticultural organizations in the United States