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My friends, I would like to recommend a new book called 'The Fruit Hunters' by Adam Leith Gollner
It's byline is "A Story of Nature, Adventure, Commerce, and OBSESSION"
I'm half way through the book, but without finishing I wanted to shout this book out to everyone. Its a good one.
The author is from Canada and he travels the world researching/interviewing various fruit and the people that are obsessed about them. I'm currently reading the 7th chapter that is titled "the Lady Fruit" It is about the Coco-de-mer and how cherished and illegal it is in the Seychelles. Chapter 7 is worth the price of the book alone. Its great.
Earlier in the book he travelled to Hawaii and South Florida. It is a great summer read.
If they gave out Pulitzer prize strictly for gardening books, Adam Leith Gollner would win it with this book! He writes like a contemporary Dr. David Fairchild (who is also written about in the book). There are many palm references also in the book as palms provide a lot of different edible fruits around the world.
Google it. Plant freaks, especially people who like to grow their own fruit, will cherish it.
later.
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the Fruit Hunters book recommendation Coco-de-mer
#1
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Posted 30 June 2008 - 03:22 PM
MultiQuote
#3
- February 20, 2010
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Posted 30 June 2008 - 04:24 PM
Never grown fruit in my life, but I think I'm eaten up enough with the hunt for palms that I could enjoy this read... Ebay has em for 19 bucks delivered to my doorstep. Thanks for the recommend Dave.
#4
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Posted 30 June 2008 - 05:33 PM
I agree with C. Floridave. While I have only read the first three chapters, I can hardly put this book down, even with so many other things taking away my time. It offers a concise and clearly written understanding of obsession due to the plant world and the inherent adventures, history, and amazing diversity that all interconnect to make plant knowledge so fascinating and rewarding.
#5
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Posted 30 June 2008 - 05:45 PM
You have me hooked. Just ordered a copy.
The artist formerly known as "Keith from So. Louisiana"
Pushing Zone 9a into 9b, till reality snaps me back.
South Central Louisiana, Coastal Influence
AHS Zone 9a, Heat Zone 8, Sunset Zone 28
Averages = rainfall 61". Low/Hi=January 60/40, July 90/72[/i]
Pushing Zone 9a into 9b, till reality snaps me back.
South Central Louisiana, Coastal Influence
AHS Zone 9a, Heat Zone 8, Sunset Zone 28
Averages = rainfall 61". Low/Hi=January 60/40, July 90/72[/i]
#7
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Posted 30 June 2008 - 06:16 PM
Wal
Sth East Queensland,
Australia
Sth East Queensland,
Australia
#8
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Posted 01 July 2008 - 08:51 AM
I just ordered a copy off ebay as well.... Tropical fruit growing was my first passion, next thing you know, you meet a couple of palm growing nuts.... wammo... hooked on palms as well
Jeff.
Jeff.
Modesto, CA USDA 9b
July/August average 92f/61f
Dec/Jan average 52f/38f
Average lowest winter temp 27f
Record low temp 18f
Record high temp 113f
July/August average 92f/61f
Dec/Jan average 52f/38f
Average lowest winter temp 27f
Record low temp 18f
Record high temp 113f
#9
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Posted 01 July 2008 - 09:04 AM
I got mine from Amazon for $16.95. Combined it with another book I had wanted to raise total so I got free shipping too.
The artist formerly known as "Keith from So. Louisiana"
Pushing Zone 9a into 9b, till reality snaps me back.
South Central Louisiana, Coastal Influence
AHS Zone 9a, Heat Zone 8, Sunset Zone 28
Averages = rainfall 61". Low/Hi=January 60/40, July 90/72[/i]
Pushing Zone 9a into 9b, till reality snaps me back.
South Central Louisiana, Coastal Influence
AHS Zone 9a, Heat Zone 8, Sunset Zone 28
Averages = rainfall 61". Low/Hi=January 60/40, July 90/72[/i]
#10
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Posted 08 July 2008 - 06:08 PM
I just finished the book tonight. Not an easy thing for me to do with my short attention span. It maintains its entertainment value to the end. It gets a little political, but he brings it back with interviewing silly people in California and others. The ending could've been a little better, but it seems like the author got tired of writing about fruits. There is a lot of info that he threw out there. Lets hope his next book is about Palm Collectors as they/we share the same traits and obsession of collecting the rare and exotic just like fruit people. My plant addiction started on tropical fruit with the Mango and moved over to the other stuff (lychee, longan, citrus, etc etc). Palms came into my life mid-stream and now I have a garden full of fruit trees and palms! This book was right up my alley. Check it out. Its a good one.
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