Fall Sale - Rare Fruit & Vegetable Council of Broward - 2018

[Palmarum]

Rare Fruit & Vegetable Council of Broward County

2018 Fall Plant Sale

RFVC of Broward County - Education & Research Garden

5105 SW. 208th Lane, SW. Ranches, FL

Saturday, October 20th, 9:30AM - 4:00PM

Sunday, October 21st, 10:00AM - 3:00PM

Society Sale Webpage: http://www.rfvcbroward.org/plant-sales

- Their flyer features an extensive list of tropical fruit trees and other plants. The selection is often changing up until the morning of the sale, or sometimes even during it (tomorrow).

Ryan

[Palmarum]

I attended the sale this morning (Saturday) and I arrived a bit early. I started this topic a bit late, but it was a spur of the moment idea. It was great to see the entire council out and about getting the sales area ready for customers before opening time. They had the usual array of volunteers and helpers on hand to guide customers to their favorite fruit trees and to help pull them out of the stock area and carry them to the front; and to their vehicles if need be. I had a short list of items to look for plus anything else that was new and interesting that caught my eye. The council had to skip the fall sale last year due to Hurricane Irma.

 

- 9:16AM - I was waiting out front with some of the other early birds when one council member emerged through the gate to greet us and to hand out copies of the sales area map. The map was a grid-based list of plants arranged in rows along the pathways. It made it easy to find the group of plants you were looking for. After about ten minutes, the customer group got larger and they let us in.

- The entry volunteer guided customers through the maze of plants, while checking receipts as people left with their new fruit trees, vegetables, etc. A newer tent was set up to shade some of the vegetables including a new spread of heirloom tomato varieties.

- They're always seems to be something interesting in the selection, but you have to look for it. A new flush of leaves decorated a small Cocoa, Cacao Tree, or Chocolate Tree, Theobroma cacao (A). Spice, herb and nut trees were also represented, including some 3 gal. Horseradish or Drumstick Trees, Moringa oleifera (B, C). A few were already in flower.

- The pathways or aisles were packed with plant material. The main groups were in a general alphabetical order, followed by a further division with the cultivars, varieties also in order. If you had attended a sale before, many of the plant groups were in their same, familiar location. The main sales area used to be covered with the council's characteristic shadehouse that stood for many years, before Hurricane Irma got to it. I do not know if they plan to rebuild it or not. The last shot was pointed away from the sales area, showing just a few of the many established fruit trees on the expansive property.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- There were two sections of Banana plants near the back of the sales area. There were thirteen different banana cultivars (and one plantain) spread across the selection.

- One group of selected plants were being whisked away to a separate area to be held for purchase (A). One new vegetable plant for me was this Pigeon Pea Bush, Cajanus cajan, which was unfamiliar until I saw the tag (B,C). A group of super-fast Papayas wait for customers. They seem to be growing, even in a still photo.

- One specimen of Black Sapote, Diospyros nigra, came with fruit. (A) If you do have a tree of your own and decide to prune it, exercise extreme caution when dealing with the sawdust, it can cause a very bad reaction when contacting sweat and skin. A batch of Breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis, plants, resembling rooted air-layers, awaits those with warm micro-climates.

- As the morning went on, more and more customers arrived and occupied the sales area and the front, 'assembly' area.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- Another new plant for me, Spice Berry, Glycosmis pentaphylla, with its edible, pea-sized, pink fruits.

- The aisles were too narrow for carts or wagons, so many of the plants had to be dragged out and carried to the forward area, which isn't that far. The forward or assembly area also serves as a holding area.

- When you are ready, a volunteer comes and writes a receipt, listing and adding up your purchases...

- ... which you take to the cashier tent, where you pay and get tempted by various homemade jams, jellies and honey. They had samples to try of everything.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- Next to the cashier tent was an information and education tent with a spread of fruits, plant samples, info items, etc. The spread included a massive Guiana (Guyana) Chestnut, that was the size of a basketball. I would hate to see that fall near me. At the end of the table, (B) the council was offering an opened coconut and freshly-pressed sugarcane juice to those that wanted some. The supply of coconuts was steady.

- The press was being run non-stop. One group of plants included specimens from all over the sales area. (B,C) They were being loaded onto a cart, which became almost filled to the edges.

- On the right with his trademark hat, legendary and venerable expert of all that is fruit, nut, spice, herb, and beyond, Murray Corman describes the selection to a customer. I have known Murray for almost thirty years now. The front area was getting packed, with more customers coming in as the morning progressed. 

- As I made my departure, I noticed how many more vehicles have arrived.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- Before leaving, I noticed a new red leaf emerging from a Salacca zalacca growing in one corner of the property. I happened to park right in front of it. It is grown as an edible fruit source (Salak) in the garden, but it figures I would end the topic with a palm.

Ryan

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[Cindy Adair]

I enjoyed this topic as I tried to grow many of these in pots using a greenhouse in VA long before I added palms. Nice variety of big plants for sale and I hope all were sold!