View Full Version : Student farm
Gabe15
10-25-2008, 12:42 PM
Last year, a group of students (of which I was one) helped to start a student run farm. Its called SOFT, Student Organic Farm Training, with its goal being to give us hands on farm experience before we graduate. We have a deal with a local market who agreed to buy produce from us when its available, and made our first sale recently, 30lbs of lettuce, not much, but you got to start somewhere!
We have quite a bit of land to work with still, I've put in 5 different bananas so far (Lakatan, Pisang Jari Buaya, Obino l'Ewai, Tango and Pama). I have a bunch more that will hopefully go in soon, and I'm currently growing out about 50 or so Senorita that we can hopefully plant before January.
In addition to bananas, we have lettuce, tomatoes, starfruit, loquat, mountain apple, and papaya on the farm. However, around the edge of the farm, there is a giant row of lychee trees, a giant row of mango trees, about 25 or so different citrus and a bunch of other trees mixed in (jakfruit, longan, chico, miracle berry and many more), which if we want to, can begin to manage and sell the fruit, but so far they have just been the equivalent of a snack bar.
Over the summer, our adviser planted out all these 'Dwarf Brazilian' plants next to our farm, and told they are ours to manage, harvest and sell. I didn't count them, but I think its about 40-50 plants.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=14196&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=14196)
Tog Tan
10-25-2008, 12:57 PM
Yo Gabe, great project! Wish I was young enough to be in school to do stuff like this. I guess there's no better way than to learn things hands on. Very nice pix. All the best.
Chironex
10-25-2008, 01:51 PM
Makes me want to go back to school - in Hawaii!!!!
harveyc
10-25-2008, 01:53 PM
Gabe, I would think you could do well selling the miracle fruit berries their in Honolulu. Someone sells then in NYC for something like $2/each with a large minimum, focusing on people that host miracle fruit parties with different foods tasted.
I'm hoping to try Senorita also. Have you tasted the fruit? If so, how do you rank it?
Sounds like a nice project - good luck!
Harvey
Gabe15
10-25-2008, 02:05 PM
Gabe, I would think you could do well selling the miracle fruit berries their in Honolulu. Someone sells then in NYC for something like $2/each with a large minimum, focusing on people that host miracle fruit parties with different foods tasted.
I'm hoping to try Senorita also. Have you tasted the fruit? If so, how do you rank it?
Wow, $2 a piece? We got a whole tree loaded with fruit, and nothing to do with them. I should start trying them with different foods...now that I think about it, I haven't even tried it with any of the 10 or so different sour citrus's right next to it, maybe next time!
I have not tried Senorita yet, but having spoken with a few Filipinos about them around here, I think it would be a welcomed introduction.
harveyc
10-25-2008, 03:00 PM
A book that came out this spring called The Fruit Hunters helped fuel the craze this spring.
See
FlavorTripping with Miracle Fruit - San Francisco, Aug 4th 2008 « Flavor Tripping (http://flavortripping.com/flavortripping-with-miracle-fruit-san-francisco-aug-4th-2008/)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html
Plants that are 3' tall that would sell for $65 a year ago went for over $200 this year and I'm one of those who was crazy enough to buy one, figuring that there wouldn't be large ones like that available again for a few years.
Worm_Farmer
10-25-2008, 04:57 PM
A book that came out this spring called The Fruit Hunters helped fuel the craze this spring.
See
FlavorTripping with Miracle Fruit - San Francisco, Aug 4th 2008 « Flavor Tripping (http://flavortripping.com/flavortripping-with-miracle-fruit-san-francisco-aug-4th-2008/)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html
Plants that are 3' tall that would sell for $65 a year ago went for over $200 this year and I'm one of those who was crazy enough to buy one, figuring that there wouldn't be large ones like that available again for a few years.
What do you feed you Miracle fruit? I have a seedling with two little leafs on it. It has not grown any bigger for a month. The leafs are a dark green and seem thick / stiff. I was told wait until the little pot is filled with roots, then move up to the next size pot. I was told it might take 3 years before I move up to a three gallon pot and a 3 gallon pot will hold a 6+ Miracle fruit tree. I have given the tree Root Ehancer and did not notice any change in plant. I tryied my Favor ArgoFlash 6-6-6 Organic non-burning fert and nothing. I have tried Worm tea and no change. Any advice on Miracle Fruit would be great, it seems to be a big screte.
And yes I seen Miracle fruit berrys sell for 2.50 - 2.65 a berry. You get the cheaper price when you buy more then one package of 10.
Have you ever had this sour candy call War Head's? I want to try a Miracle fruit and a war head!! I was intruduced to this plant when I was visiting a friend at the hospital. I was talking to someone there who was visiting a friend that had kemo done and he said they give her a berry and then she eats like crazy, but with out the berrys she never wanted to eat.
harveyc
10-25-2008, 05:30 PM
I've killed two tiny ones and my big one I bought had a setback when I followed the advice of someone to give it full sun. I feed it with Miracid as a friend in Florida reported good results with that for his. Mine is in a greenhouse where humidity is higher as I've been told that is very important. Some people suggest well-drained soil but a nursery in Hawaii (Pahoa) discovered by accident that they do okay even when in standing water.
I've never heard of War Head's. But I have heard of the berry's help with chemo patients and, if my plant every does well, I would plan on talking to a friend who is a hospice nurse to see if she would like to offer it to patients (for free). That in itself would make it worth the $200+ I paid for my plant! :)
Worm_Farmer
10-25-2008, 06:27 PM
I've killed two tiny ones and my big one I bought had a setback when I followed the advice of someone to give it full sun. I feed it with Miracid as a friend in Florida reported good results with that for his. Mine is in a greenhouse where humidity is higher as I've been told that is very important. Some people suggest well-drained soil but a nursery in Hawaii (Pahoa) discovered by accident that they do okay even when in standing water.
I've never heard of War Head's. But I have heard of the berry's help with chemo patients and, if my plant every does well, I would plan on talking to a friend who is a hospice nurse to see if she would like to offer it to patients (for free). That in itself would make it worth the $200+ I paid for my plant! :)
Well I know one person that had chemo and she would say it worked for her. If you can get into a hospital and give these out to people in need, then my friend you are a true saint!
harveyc
10-25-2008, 07:27 PM
Not yet, but I am work in progress! :)
Richard
10-25-2008, 10:13 PM
What do you feed you Miracle fruit? Miracle fruit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_fruit)
Miracle fruit plants are a member of the true Sapote family. They like a nutrient balance similar to Citrus; e.g., an N-P-K of 15-5-10 or some multiple thereof. They also require more Calcium and Magnesium as trace elements in comparison to fruits of northern climates. Since it is a bush, it only needs about 1/8 to 1/4 of what you would feed a tree. If you are not growing it in zone 10 or higher, consider a winterizing fertilizer for the period Oct. through February, and a then a standard subtropical fruit formula for the other months. You'll find standard products found at many stores listed in this growing guide: Subtropicals (http://plantsthatproduce.com/guides/CommonSubtropicals.pdf); and the products I use for sale here: Fertilizers for Subtropical Fruit (http://plantsthatproduce.com/products/fertilizer_subtropicalfruit.html).
Some interesting background on Miracle Fruit and interference by the Sugar Industry can be found here: Miracle fruit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_fruit)
Gabe15
10-25-2008, 10:28 PM
Wow, this is all pretty neat about Miracle Berry! I knew a little bit about it before, but all these articles are really intriguing.
We have at least one mature plant at our farm, it's got to be around 20-30 years old and as I remember it, beyond the bush stage and more like a tree. And then we have one on campus that we (Horticulture Society) planted last semester...maybe I should go check out that one right now for fruit...
harveyc
10-25-2008, 11:01 PM
Gabe, at a very minimum you should consider growing some plants from the seeds of the berries. I have friends in Hawaii that have never heard of them and I think it could do well at a plant sale some time. Or you could do a farmer's market even where you sell some berries along with some fruits and then offer plants for sale. I would not be surprised if people went wild. Even just selling the berries at a farmer's market there could create quite a draw. Since they are perishable the shipping of them can be a problem so individual sales at a farmer's market could be a great way to expose more people to them. I also wonder what kind of fun I could have had them at parties in my college days.
Richard, I've read that article about the conspiracy of the sugar industry before and it seems contrived. We like our sweets in convenient and cheap forms way too much for the miracle fruit berry to ever become big competition. It's very fun to read, though!
Magilla Gorilla
10-25-2008, 11:38 PM
Not yet, but I am work in progress! :)
Your a good man!
MediaHound
10-26-2008, 10:06 AM
Great picture Gabe and great project, sounds like a good time.
RE: miracle fruit - I grow it as well and whenever I have a guest come over and I have fruits, I don't let them leave without trying it out!
My favorite combination so far is a fruit with a glass or two of pineapple juice!
Worm_Farmer you have a long wait ahead of you! I have heard this plant takes 7 years to set fruit.
bepah
10-26-2008, 10:17 AM
Gabe,
Just a question, as you are more advanced in this than I.....
Why did you plant in tradition rows, rather than what might have been better use of the bananas rooting strength and plant in a hexagonal pattern and allow for unform root growth around each plant. I would imagine that any pups produced would be stronger and less crowded from the neighboring plants?
Thanks,
harveyc
10-26-2008, 03:31 PM
Jarred, I've heard from other friends in FLorida have had it fruit in 3-4 years. Mine produced a single fruit a couplle of months ago and I brought it inside and set it on the counter, joking that it was a $200 fruit. I came back to try it about an hour later and it was gone and nobody knew what it was. I think my dog must have ate it! LOL
Gabe15
10-26-2008, 04:24 PM
Gabe,
Just a question, as you are more advanced in this than I.....
Why did you plant in tradition rows, rather than what might have been better use of the bananas rooting strength and plant in a hexagonal pattern and allow for unform root growth around each plant. I would imagine that any pups produced would be stronger and less crowded from the neighboring plants?
I'm glad you brought this up, because plant spacing is actually a rather complex issue and not commonly a subject on our forum.
First off, I didn't plant these. They were planted by our adviser over the summer and given to the student group to manage. However, if I had planted them (and I am planting more at our farm), I would still have done the traditional rows. There are many advantages to having them in a row, especially in a commercial situation (which also takes into consideration some economic issues which are not issues for us). For us, we can easily run the irrigation lines on all the plants, allow easy access for vehicles to go between them (such as the large field mowers or other equipment), and as is inherent of using rows we have easy access to all of the plants. A hexagonal system might be useful somewhere, but for us, since we really aren't even growing that many plants, normal rows are easier. Also, we are not a banana farm, we are a farm with bananas, so we don't want to take up a huge area of our farm with a more complex planting system.
What your describing to me seems to basically be an aspect of any field planting, which is the spacing between each plant. This can vary from almost 20ft apart in some systems to 4ft apart in others. Spacing however is dependent on a few different things, such as the variety grown (some varieties take up more room than others), soil fertility, water availability and the need for access to the plants (on commercial farms they also allow for more room to prevent the fruit from being bruised by neighboring leaves and workers, so it is generally a little bit wider than is needed for healthy plants). The closer the plants are together, the more they are competing for the same nutrients, this could be an issue and affect how close you want your plants in a commercial setting, but since we have access to all of the water and fertilizer we need, competition between each plant shouldn't be an issue and they will have plenty of strength and not interfere with each other. If maximizing the space between each plant was needed, I would first opt for a square grid planting (such as 10ft between each plant in a row with rows 10ft apart). Also, the closer you plant them together, the more dense of a canopy you will develop to suppress weeds, which is a great benefit if your goal is to reduce nutrient competition in your field.
And as for crowding, this is a farm, not plants growing out in the wild, and we manage them. We will remove pups as needed and make sure they don't form huge mats that encroach on each other. If we were to let them grow out fully, we may see a loss in gross yield, but then again, we don't really care because we are just a student farm, not a commercial grower trying to maximize production with every trick in the book. Each grower has a specific need for their plants, if you need them to produce huge bunches you will adjust your planting system accordingly, but if you need them to be easy to manage and require little work to be put into them then you will too adjust your planting system according.
harveyc
10-26-2008, 05:14 PM
Gabe, you might want to consider a "diamond" pattern when you plant your additional bananas, a common practice in commercia orchards. The plants in the adjoining rows are at the midpoint between plants the beginning row and so forth. You can still go 10 x 10 if you want or you can have plants slightly altered to get the desired spacing you want. Planting in a square pattern is not ideal for weed supression or light utilization.
Good luck,
Harvey
bepah
10-26-2008, 08:08 PM
Harvey,
thanks for providing the correct terminology for spacing. the 'diamond' pattern is what I was referring to and some of the issues that Gabe broght up are either supportive of it or do not interfere, such as irrigation.
A study to compare productivity of different spacing might be of some benefit, I would think....
(gosh, I love stats!)
bepah
10-26-2008, 08:39 PM
I'm glad you brought this up, because plant spacing is actually a rather complex issue and not commonly a subject on our forum.
.......
And as for crowding, this is a farm, not plants growing out in the wild, and we manage them. We will remove pups as needed and make sure they don't form huge mats that encroach on each other. If we were to let them grow out fully, we may see a loss in gross yield, but then again, we don't really care because we are just a student farm, not a commercial grower trying to maximize production with every trick in the book. Each grower has a specific need for their plants, if you need them to produce huge bunches you will adjust your planting system accordingly, but if you need them to be easy to manage and require little work to be put into them then you will too adjust your planting system according.
Gabe,
Your response, after I mulled it around my feeble mind for a few hours, led to this response.
I would think that the farm would lead to a ton of experiments toward learning and publishing results, not just farming for experience. Productivity techniques, different fertilization and irrigation practices, and other areas that I cannot think of at the moment look to be possible given the gift you have received. For example, would it be possible to have control plots and then experiment with different techniques and measure the result? Monoculture vs. interspeciation (my term, meaning multiple species in close proximity) on single plots to limit insect and disease damage?
I am sure you may have thought of this, but what an opportunity!
Good luck in whatever you achieve!
Bananaman88
10-27-2008, 12:30 PM
The farm sounds great, Gabe! I'm sure it'll be a great success for you all.
Gabe15
03-18-2009, 01:29 AM
Here are some updated photos of the banana portion of our student farm.
If anyone is ever on Oahu and wants to take a tour let me know.
The 'Dwarf Brazilian' showed in the first post are all mostly flowering now (you can't see the bunches in the photo, but they are there). They took about 6-8 months from planting, even by Hawai'i standards this is very quick. They are from TC. (click on photo once, and then again when it loads for full size)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=16182&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16182&ppuser=5)
Here is a photo of our newly planted formal banana collection, about 25 different varieties. They are spaced about 20ft apart in 2 staggered rows. They are so far apart so that we can allow for intercropping. We are planning on filling the gaps with sweetpotato, kava and taro mainly, but may add in a few fruit trees down the middle.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=16183&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16183&ppuser=5)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=16184&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16184&ppuser=5)
We have about 30 other fruit trees of all different things as well as an herb garden. We are planting more this Friday.
In addition to the bananas, we have (off the top of my head...there are multiple varieties of most too):
Carambola
Guava
Loquat
Papaya
Mountain Apple
Breadfruit
Miracle Fruit
Black Sapote
Abiu
Jaboticaba
Fig
Avocado
Star Apple
Sapodilla
Matisia cordata
Santol
Canistel
Pomegranet
Grumichama
Some of our young fruit trees
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=16185&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16185&ppuser=5)
Gabe15
03-18-2009, 01:38 AM
Here is a list of the banana we have planted so far. I have a few more Id really like to add, but we may be out of room unless we overrun the whole place with bananas (which I'm not against, but I do appreciate our other crop attempts).
Bakurura
Igisahira
Inyoya
Mbirabire
Muraru Mshare
Muraru Mulalu
Pisang Buntal (Sucrier type)
Ngu (Sucrier type)
Gros Michel
Cocos (dwarf Gros Michel)
Goldfinger
Kluai Roi Wi (Thousand Fingers)
Yangambi no. 2 (not Yangambi KM5)
Kingala no. 1
Auko
Vunapope
Kamaramasenge
Ney Poovan (Safet Velchi/Chini Champa type)
Kunnan
Kayinja (Namwah type)
Exera
Ungoye Sweet
Kifutu
Foconah (Pome type)
Sukari Red
Pisang Jari Buaya
Obino l'Ewai (plantain)
Tango
Pama
No Durian Gabe? I've been trying to locate a fresh one , I've been told frozen is no good even by those who like them. That's one thing on my must do list.
Thanks as usual for the great pics.
chong
03-18-2009, 11:34 AM
No Durian Gabe? I've been trying to locate a fresh one , I've been told frozen is no good even by those who like them. That's one thing on my must do list.
Thanks as usual for the great pics.
Hey Bob,
Those guys are purists! You should try a frozen one. They may not be as good as a fresh one, but they are not bad. In fact, they're not that far off from a fresh one. Besides, if you've never tasted them before, what difference does it make? I have friends in Canyon Country, CA, that I used to bring some frozen durian (quadruple wrapped in plastic bags so the plane may be spared! not to mention my suitcase) to from Seattle, before they started selling them in CA, and they loved them. After eating the pulp, roast or boil the seeds . . . those are the biggest nuts you'll ever enjoy!
While you're at it, try frozen mangosteen (garcinia mangostana) and lanzones (lansium domesticum). While again not as good as the fresh ones, it's still a treat.
I can get all of those fresh in Vancouver, BC when they are in season. But, alas, the Big Brother will not let me bring them through the border. Unless, somehow I can manage to hide them inside the tires!
Thanks Chong, yeah why not. I'll get one this weekend when I shop.
Tog Tan
03-18-2009, 12:35 PM
Thanks Chong, yeah why not. I'll get one this weekend when I shop.
Hey Bob, NEVER take hard liquor or to be safe, any alcohol when you eat durians. There were a number of documented cases which resulted in death. This is not a joke as the enzymes in the durian have a weird way of interacting with alcohol.
Gabe15
03-18-2009, 12:41 PM
No Durian Gabe? I've been trying to locate a fresh one , I've been told frozen is no good even by those who like them. That's one thing on my must do list.
Thanks as usual for the great pics.
There are a few places in Hawai'i they grow well, but I don't think they would do good at our farm, and the trees are rather expensive. There are some growing in the area but it sounds like they are hard to grow in our part of the islands. Nevertheless, if I get a tree I would definitely plant it out there! Mangosteen too!
austinl01
03-18-2009, 12:58 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=14196&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=14196)
That's very beautiful!
Bananaman88
03-18-2009, 01:02 PM
Are any of your Fe'i types ready to be planted out yet?
chong
03-18-2009, 01:22 PM
Hey Bob, NEVER take hard liquor or to be safe, any alcohol when you eat durians. There were a number of documented cases which resulted in death. This is not a joke as the enzymes in the durian have a weird way of interacting with alcohol.
Thanks for the warning, Tog! Indeed this is not a joke, but read attached article regarding Durian in general, including the Durian-alcohol controversy.
Notable quotes from the article:
- "A common Malaysian belief is that it is harmful to drink alcohol after consuming durians."
- "It should be noted that deaths or maladies apparently do occasionally occur due to durians, but usually from being struck by one of these large spiny fruits as it falls from a tree, rather than by ingestion (Craig 1973)."
Here's the best!
- "an often quoted Malay saying states ‘When the durians come down, the sarongs go up’." (WOO-WHOOO!)
Read on . . . . .
973
LilRaverBoi
03-18-2009, 06:31 PM
Great pictures! I definitely support what you guys are doing! Organic farming is a great way to grow produce and still be environmentally friendly. When combined with some sustainable farming practices, it really makes the hippy in me smile! Thanks for sharing! I wish you the best of luck!
harveyc
03-18-2009, 09:41 PM
Bob, there is supposedly a grower of durian in southern California near Palmdale which sells fruits in the San Francisco area.
Here is an article from June 2007. I haven't made the trip there yet, but hope to one of these days. A friend went there later in 2007 and said the exotic stuff was stashed below her tables in boxes, apparently for customers that knew to ask.
WHAT'S NEW
Olivia Wu, Karola Saekel
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Andrea Tran, 36, has the most winsome smile of any farmer at the
Saturday Alemany Farmers' Market. Which is unusual for a woman who
holds at least two jobs -- as a software engineer and a grower of
tropical fruits -- and who drives from Palmdale to San Francisco
every weekend.
Tran inherited Family Fruit Farm in Southern California, from her
parents. The family emigrated from Vietnam in 1975.
Since late April, and through the summer, she has been selling the
most aromatic, floral jackfruit, with dense coral-golden tones, that
I have had, including those from my hometown, Bangkok. The fruit,
about the size of a 20-pound sack of potatoes, is beautiful to
behold.
Tran's smile and cheerful refrain is the trademark I've come to know.
"You want to eat it today, tomorrow or in two days," she will say
about her Haas avocados. That's the kind of care and precision she
brings to orcharding.
In the beginning, her parents' longing for the tropical fruits of
South Vietnam led to buying 1 1/2 acres, which they planted with
avocados and cherimoyas.
"In the '70s, there were no Asians and no Asian fruit," she says.
Those acres grew to 40 with thousands of trees. She now sells
cherimoya, guava, mango, longan, lychee, papaya, coconut, tiny
bananas and durian.
It's a treat to have non-imported tropical fruits so many times
sweeter and more fragrant than one usually finds. From now on through
the summer is her prime season, a paradise for those who miss the
fruits of the tropics.
The Trans planted jackfruit trees in the 1980s to buffer the winds
that were whipping their guava trees. They now have 13 productive
trees, whose fruits range from 17 pounds each to 65 pounds. Tran
sells the pineapple-jasmine-flavored, chewy fruit at $4.50 a pound,
whacking off chunks with a big knife. She'll give you a taste or tell
you how to eat them -- always with a smile. She even smiles when she
tells you she's sold out, often by 10 a.m.
Alemany Farmers' Market, at the junction of highways 101 and 280, is
open Saturdays from dawn until dusk. Visit SFGov: Alemany Farmers' Market (http://www.sfgov.org/alemany) for
more information.
Thanks Harvey , if you get down there and would consider shipping me a few fresh fruits ,I'm good for it just let me know. I think this weekend when I get back to m local Asian market I'm going to take Chongs' advise and get a frozen durian , then have my wife take pics of my facial expressions eating it. Maybe post in tiki hut or the jokes section!
harveyc
03-19-2009, 09:01 AM
Okay, Bob, it won't be anytime soon but I would imagine her harvest is later in the year anyways.
I tried a frozen one last year and did not care for it. Seemed like rotten garlic! :P
Harvey
momoese
03-19-2009, 10:22 AM
Huh? How is this possible?
WHAT'S NEW
Olivia Wu, Karola Saekel
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Andrea Tran, 36, has the most winsome smile of any farmer at the
Saturday Alemany Farmers' Market. Which is unusual for a woman who
holds at least two jobs -- as a software engineer and a grower of
tropical fruits -- and who drives from Palmdale to San Francisco
every weekend.
Tran inherited Family Fruit Farm in Southern California, from her
parents. The family emigrated from Vietnam in 1975.
Since late April, and through the summer, she has been selling the
most aromatic, floral jackfruit, with dense coral-golden tones, that
I have had, including those from my hometown, Bangkok. The fruit,
about the size of a 20-pound sack of potatoes, is beautiful to
behold.
Tran's smile and cheerful refrain is the trademark I've come to know.
"You want to eat it today, tomorrow or in two days," she will say
about her Haas avocados. That's the kind of care and precision she
brings to orcharding.
In the beginning, her parents' longing for the tropical fruits of
South Vietnam led to buying 1 1/2 acres, which they planted with
avocados and cherimoyas.
"In the '70s, there were no Asians and no Asian fruit," she says.
Those acres grew to 40 with thousands of trees. She now sells
cherimoya, guava, mango, longan, lychee, papaya, coconut, tiny
bananas and durian.
It's a treat to have non-imported tropical fruits so many times
sweeter and more fragrant than one usually finds. From now on through
the summer is her prime season, a paradise for those who miss the
fruits of the tropics.
The Trans planted jackfruit trees in the 1980s to buffer the winds
that were whipping their guava trees. They now have 13 productive
trees, whose fruits range from 17 pounds each to 65 pounds. Tran
sells the pineapple-jasmine-flavored, chewy fruit at $4.50 a pound,
whacking off chunks with a big knife. She'll give you a taste or tell
you how to eat them -- always with a smile. She even smiles when she
tells you she's sold out, often by 10 a.m.
Alemany Farmers' Market, at the junction of highways 101 and 280, is
open Saturdays from dawn until dusk. Visit SFGov: Alemany Farmers' Market for
more information.
Gabe15
03-19-2009, 12:23 PM
Huh? How is this possible?
I thought the same thing, especially since they can hardly grow Durian out here even and I know well the status of coconuts in California. Perhaps that list was taken out of context, like things she sells but not necessarily grows herself? Or is it known for a fact that this lady does indeed grow Durian? It also talks a lot about jackfruit, which some people confuse with the Durian, but is very different.
Chironex
03-19-2009, 05:23 PM
Next time I am in the area, I want to check it out.
harveyc
03-19-2009, 08:39 PM
I am hoping to investigate her area one of these days. My wife was raised not far from her farm and my brother-in-law lives in the area but we haven't been down there for a few years.
Back when that article came out I did some searching in phonebooks, etc. and my best guess is that her farm is located on the top of a ridge as marked in this Google map: 36850 E. 92nd St.,Littlerock, CA 93543 - Google Maps (http://tinyurl.com/23toss). I'm not positive that's her place, but I would like to head down by that area to find out what I can see if I've got the time. Maybe you can drive by Mitchel and report back.
I am also somewhat skeptical and have experienced reporting errors firsthand, but it seems odd that they would mention these things. The farmers' market mentioned in the article is a certified market, I believe (as nearly all are) so supposedly everything she is selling is stuff she is growing. A friend of mine visited with her at the market in August 2007 and I just wrote him to ask for some confirmation of the fruit being grown by her.
In part, he wrote:
I went this morning. Difficult to find. Parking is also very difficult. Primarily Asian vegetables. I did buy jackfruit from the lady who came up from Palmdale. She also had litchees, longans, big papayas and durian.
and
I didn't get the price on the litchees, but the jackfruit was expensive--$4.50 per lb.
The Palmdale lady is there every Saturday. She is also at the Oakland old town market on Friday mornings but doesn't sell her tropical fruits there because she says the people who come to the Oakland market usually don't have the money. Her brother sells at the Santa Monica market and two of the other beach towns in SoCal.
harveyc
03-19-2009, 09:12 PM
Update: my friend replied to the e-mail I sent him. He said that she indicated she grew the fruit which he listed (see above) as seeing there.
Pretty awesome, eh? :)
momoese
03-19-2009, 11:06 PM
I am hoping to investigate her area one of these days. My wife was raised not far from her farm and my brother-in-law lives in the area but we haven't been down there for a few years.
Back when that article came out I did some searching in phonebooks, etc. and my best guess is that her farm is located on the top of a ridge as marked in this Google map: 36850 E. 92nd St.,Littlerock, CA 93543 - Google Maps (http://tinyurl.com/23toss). I'm not positive that's her place, but I would like to head down by that area to find out what I can see if I've got the time. Maybe you can drive by Mitchel and report back.
I am also somewhat skeptical and have experienced reporting errors firsthand, but it seems odd that they would mention these things. The farmers' market mentioned in the article is a certified market, I believe (as nearly all are) so supposedly everything she is selling is stuff she is growing. A friend of mine visited with her at the market in August 2007 and I just wrote him to ask for some confirmation of the fruit being grown by her.
In part, he wrote:
and
Wouldn't it be easier just to call her and ask if she actually has Coconut trees producing? I could take a drive out there but I'd want to be sure that I was at the correct place and hopefully get a photo op and tour/interview while there. I must say that I'm very skeptical though. It gets really cold there, way colder than here at my house and I have no illusions of growing coconut tress here.
I remember several years ago one of the Santa Monica Farmers Market sellers used to eat fresh Durian with a really satisfied look on his face so maybe he was getting it from her brother? Hmm
harveyc
03-19-2009, 11:49 PM
I don't remember if I tried calling back in 2007 or not but don't have the phone number now.
I am also not confident that the coconut comment in the article is correct (note that is something my friend did not report seeing her sell), though there are some hardy types that most of us wouldn't consider a coconut. I have a small Bolivian coconut. Maybe the grower made some vague reference to something like that which got picked up by the reporter.
If I recall correctly, the directory listing I found had the name "Tran Family Farm". I can't find it now. :(
Come on, Mitchel, a field trip is in order! :P
Harvey
chong
03-20-2009, 02:48 AM
Update: my friend replied to the e-mail I sent him. He said that she indicated she grew the fruit which he listed (see above) as seeing there.
Pretty awesome, eh? :)
Growing Durian in So. Cal. and actually producing fruit for market is awesome, but pretty surprising. According to the Echonet website, "Durian is extremely cold sensitive and poorly adapted to Florida soil." But then according to TopTropicals,they have a variety, "The red and yellow-fleshed fruits are Durio graveolans, more tolerant of S. Florida conditions and taste like peanut butter." I have never seen a "red and yellow fleshed" Durian, much less a Durian that tastes
like peanut butter. And as warm as it gets in the Philippines, though they may grow everywhere there, they do not thrive well in the areas north of Mindanao, the southern most region of the country.
Wouldn't it be easier just to call her and ask if she actually has Coconut trees producing? I could take a drive out there but I'd want to be sure that I was at the correct place and hopefully get a photo op and tour/interview while there. I must say that I'm very skeptical though. It gets really cold there, way colder than here at my house and I have no illusions of growing coconut tress here.
I remember . . . . .? Hmm
To be fair, I can tell you that in 1988, I used to see a couple of coconut trees near the beach in Manhattan Beach, when I used to spend weekdays in El Segundo for our project with Xerox for several months. (We went to Manhattan Beach for dinner.) The first time I saw ithem, I was so mesmerized, because I always read that they couldn't grow in this area. I don't believe that even these will thrive, if not live long enough to produce fruit. Although seeing them, I was so fascinated that when I got back home in Seattle, I just had to have them, so I ordered a couple of them from Florida. They are now in coconut heaven.
I don't remember . . . . . . . ..
I am also confident that the coconut comment in the article is correct (note that is something my friend did not report seeing her sell), though there are some hardy types that most of us wouldn't consider a coconut. I have a small Bolivian coconut. Maybe the grower made some vague reference to something like that which got picked up by the reporter.
If I recall . . . .. . .. I can't find it now. :(
Come on, Mitchel, a field trip is in order! :P
Harvey
I am not aware of any coconut that can be considered hardy. There are some palms that have the name "coconut" that are in fact not coconuts, not just not considered as such. There are ornamental coconuts that are true coconuts and are members of the "Cocos" family.(The ones we had in pots in the Philippines came from Malaya (now Malaysia). The specie that you have is not. It's a very pretty plant though:
PlantFiles: Pictures of Pasopaya Palm, Bolivian Mountain Coconut (Parajubaea torallyi) (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/34371/)
Tog Tan
03-20-2009, 04:07 AM
Growing Durian in So. Cal. and actually producing fruit for market is awesome, but pretty surprising. According to the Echonet website, "Durian is extremely cold sensitive and poorly adapted to Florida soil." But then according to TopTropicals,they have a variety, "The red and yellow-fleshed fruits are Durio graveolans, more tolerant of S. Florida conditions and taste like peanut butter." I have never seen a "red and yellow fleshed" Durian, much less a Durian that tastes
like peanut butter. And as warm as it gets in the Philippines, though they may grow everywhere there, they do not thrive well in the areas north of Mindanao, the southern most region of the country.
Chong, Durio graveolans is a wild species which is not considered palatable by the locals here. It has a much thinner pulp and is not overly sweet nor does it have the bitter tang which the locals prefer. It does have a colorful pulp but it can't beat the Sukang, Durio oxleyanus, from Sabah which grows to 130+ft and has a dark red pulp. Another teaser, cos the taste is no where as intense as its color. Also thin pulped. When I get a pix from my friend, I will post it.
Finally there is the Durio testudinarum, or Durian Kura (tortoise) as the fruits are found at the base and buttress of the tree. This is a smaller tree at about 80ft in height. There are about 30 species of wild durians in this region and most of them have a high chlorophyll taste. When I am with the Orang Asli during the wild durian's fruiting season they will treat me with them. Being gracious, I will say it's nice and it will only result in them giving me till I go green. Species with the fancy colors are used for hybridizing with the cultivars and they cost more because of the novelty.
Currently there are too many cultivars to name and the most popular staple is the D24 which has a few seeds with a very thick and sweet creamy pulp infused with a very bitter taste. Kind of like a very bitter white choc! This is what the M'sians love. We do not like the Thai durians as they are firm and taste like frozen butter cream. The Thais can't stand the pungency of our durians and they say M'sians eat rotten durians!
About the sarong, durians and the Malays... It goes like this, when the durians come, if they don't own any trees, the Malays will pawn their sarong to buy it...
I have mentioned this before, it is believed that if a tiger is found eating the durian of a particular tree, it has to be the best tasting tree in that area. It's a fact that tigers here like durians, so do most of our cats and dogs.
harveyc
03-20-2009, 03:13 PM
I am not aware of any coconut that can be considered hardy. There are some palms that have the name "coconut" that are in fact not coconuts, not just not considered as such. There are ornamental coconuts that are true coconuts and are members of the "Cocos" family.(The ones we had in pots in the Philippines came from Malaya (now Malaysia). The specie that you have is not. It's a very pretty plant though:
PlantFiles: Pictures of Pasopaya Palm, Bolivian Mountain Coconut (Parajubaea torallyi) (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/34371/)
Whether you consider it a "real" coconut or not, my point was that the grower may have made some mention of something such as this and the reporter picked up on it in a more general sense. It does supposedly produce edible fruit that sort of tastes like coconut. I'm almost tempted to buy another one when looking at the pretty pictures at Bolivian MOUNTAIN Coconut 5 GALLON Cold hardy LIVE Palm - eBay (item 220369932327 end time Mar-29-09 22:32:06 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220369932327).
Still, the main point of mentioning this grower to begin with was of her being a supplier of fresh durian since that's what Bob was wanting to try.
I asked my friend if he happened to get a card or phone number for her but he said he did not. He said she was very busy at the market (as I would imagine) and didn't have much time to talk.
Harvey
momoese
03-20-2009, 04:34 PM
In searching for her I found this. I don't think I've ever tried these or even had the chance to. Anyone here grow them?
Pawpaws at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (http://figswithbri.com/?p=44)
Sorry about the major thread derail Gabe. It just sort of happened!
[QUOTE=momoese;67534Sorry about the major thread derail Gabe. It just sort of happened![/QUOTE]
Same here Gabe. Just happened.
harveyc
03-20-2009, 05:34 PM
It's all Bob's fault, Gabe! :P I think Gabe gets more $B for us replying to his thread, though, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with his topic. I would like to come see your student farm sometime, Gabe.
Mitchel, I have some pawpaw seedlings that are pretty old and had planned on grafting them but am not so sure I want to go through with it. There is some controversy over annonacin (sp?) content that Richard can also add to. It has had some neurological consequences but it's not known if fruits like pawpaw and cherimoya are also potential problems. There are some pawpaw varieties which have been found in tests to have lower levels so I probably should graft my seedlings to those.
The same friend that visited the "durian lady" has a couple of pawpaw in the Sacramento area that produce decent crops for him. A couple of years ago he brought a bag of fruits for me to try. They tasted great but I really found the large number of seeds to take away from the experience for me.
Since I'm on a roll of suggesting road trips for you, you could drive to Ohio this summer where they have a pawpaw festival! lol
Harvey
momoese
03-20-2009, 07:11 PM
I found the thread, yes it's called annonacin. Scary stuff!
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