California Rare Fruit Growers Association
Encyclopedia
The California Rare Fruit Growers Association (CRFG) is an organization of rare exotic fruit enthusiasts, hobbyists and amateur
horticulturists based in California. The CRFG, founded in 1968, promotes rare fruits in the Southern California
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 and is said to be the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world.
The California Rare Fruit Growers was co-founded by Paul Thomson
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
with Lockheed
from Santa Clara, California
. Both Thomson and Riley shared an enthusiasm for rare fruits and plants which had not been previously widely cultivated in California
. Riley and Thomson soon began collaborating to publish a newsletter on tropical and subtropical fruits using a mimeograph machine
. 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.
The CRFG publishes a bimonthly magazine called The Fruit Gardener, an outgrowth of the early newsletters published by Thomson and Riley.
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
horticulturists based in California. The CRFG, founded in 1968, promotes rare fruits in the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
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 and is said to be the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world.
The California Rare Fruit Growers was co-founded by Paul Thomson
Paul Thomson (botanist)
Paul Thomson was an American exotic fruit enthusiast, self taught botanist, fruit farmer and the co-founder of the California Rare Fruit Growers Association, a group of amateur horticulturists which now has more than 3,000 members in approximately 35 countries...
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
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
with Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
from Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
. Both Thomson and Riley shared an enthusiasm for rare fruits and plants which had not been previously widely cultivated in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Riley and Thomson soon began collaborating to publish a newsletter on tropical and subtropical fruits using a mimeograph machine
Mimeograph machine
The stencil duplicator or mimeograph machine is a low-cost printing press that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper....
. 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.
The CRFG publishes a bimonthly magazine called The Fruit Gardener, an outgrowth of the early newsletters published by Thomson and Riley.