Bananas...in California???

sbfarrington · 09-19-2008, 09:13 PM

I was recently told there is a banana plantation (small) on the Central California coast. Does anyone have any info about this???

Thanks!

momoese · 09-19-2008, 09:57 PM

It's gone.

Banana Grower Slipped Up by Legal Wrangling - Los Angeles Times

pharazon · 09-19-2008, 10:52 PM

Are there any members here who had the opportunity to visit the former plantation?

Pithy_Cherub · 09-20-2008, 12:38 AM

Seaside Banana Gardens hooked me up w/my 1st AeAe years ago ... I blame them for the addiction that followed!

It was a beautiful plantation - I hoped Richardson would be able to relocate & was sorry to see he hadn't.

pharazon · 09-20-2008, 12:53 AM

Any photographs?

Richard · 09-20-2008, 01:33 AM

One of my relatives has an illustrated map of Mentone, CA drawn in 1856. Besides showing many citrus ranches and nurseries each with 50,000 to 150,000 trees, it also shows 200+ acres of bananas parallel to Crafton Avenue.

Pithy_Cherub · 09-20-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharazon

Any photographs?

The plantation? No - wish I'd thought of it, though. I would plan my jobs so I could swing by whenever I had a contract in the area, & was usually stuffing pots into the darkroom/camper on the truck so the suits wouldn't catch on when I got back in town. Saved gas & made me a very eager, ready-to-travel-yessir!-type of employee! I did pipeline xray inspection & carried radioactive materials (iridium mostly) - so film wasn't practical to haul. If it wasn't stored w/the xray film, it got exposed from the proximity to the isotopes.

The AeAe? My daughters' dog Buppy ate the dang thing. No pixs of it, either. Or the cursed dog.

Finally nailed another AeAe this summer from an eBay seller in Hawaii ... & I only have cats now!

pharazon · 09-20-2008, 02:04 AM

That dog had expensive tastes..

Magilla Gorilla · 09-20-2008, 01:01 PM

La Conchita is close to Santa Barbara and still has a few bananas in locals gardens. Doug Richardson is a really nice guy! He still sells bananas. His prices and plants are great! Last month he was moving his operation. I picked up 3 Mysore, 1 Ice Cream, 3 Monzano, 1 Red Iholena, I Jamacian Red.

Andrew

chong · 09-20-2008, 03:10 PM

I found an article regarding the Richardsons, et. al, and their banana operation. This appears to be the latest article regarding their operation, albeit, the article was written in 2002.
The Banana Man: A Comeback Story - Los Angeles Times
It has contact information, even. I don't know if they would still be current, if as Andrew reports, they were moving last month.

Andrew - Santa Barbara people are tough cookies over there. I was an engineer for Costco when they were building their facility in Goleta. There were so many unique requirements for them to build there, including Spanish tile roof and all, that the cost of the building was at least 25% more than any Costco in southern CA. One time I was given 30 minutes notice (before flight time from Seattle) to go there to meet with building officials, else they'd hold up final inspections another week and a half, if no one can answer their questions.

I loved it there. It kinda was like being on Waikiki beach on a cool day.

Magilla Gorilla · 09-22-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong

I found an article regarding the Richardsons, et. al, and their banana operation. This appears to be the latest article regarding their operation, albeit, the article was written in 2002.
The Banana Man: A Comeback Story - Los Angeles Times
It has contact information, even. I don't know if they would still be current, if as Andrew reports, they were moving last month.

Andrew - Santa Barbara people are tough cookies over there. I was an engineer for Costco when they were building their facility in Goleta. There were so many unique requirements for them to build there, including Spanish tile roof and all, that the cost of the building was at least 25% more than any Costco in southern CA. One time I was given 30 minutes notice (before flight time from Seattle) to go there to meet with building officials, else they'd hold up final inspections another week and a half, if no one can answer their questions.

I loved it there. It kinda was like being on Waikiki beach on a cool day.

Chong, Santa Barbara is a great place to raise our kids. The town does limit growth. We don't have big chain stores like Target, Walmart or Best Buy. Costco is an exception. The weather is very temperate here (68 to 74 year round). It could be a little warmer though. We don't have air conditioning as it does not get really hot. I have Doug Richardson's contact info. The plants I purchased from him recently are very big and healthy.

Andrew

momoese · 09-22-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magilla Gorilla

La Conchita is close to Santa Barbara and still has a few bananas in locals gardens. Doug Richardson is a really nice guy! He still sells bananas. His prices and plants are great! Last month he was moving his operation. I picked up 3 Mysore, 1 Ice Cream, 3 Monzano, 1 Red Iholena, I Jamacian Red.

Andrew

Where was his operation and where is he moving it to? Is he still selling banana fruit at the Garden Market?

Magilla Gorilla · 09-22-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

Where was his operation and where is he moving it to? Is he still selling banana fruit at the Garden Market?

He was located in Monticeto and was plannign to move at the end of August. I am not sure where he was going to move to. He did say locally (SB area). I do have his phone number. As for selling fruit, I am not sure.

Andrew

momoese · 09-22-2008, 01:53 PM

Thanks Andrew! Could you pm me with his phone number please.

Magilla Gorilla · 09-22-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

Thanks Andrew! Could you pm me with his phone number please.

I sent you his contact info. If you have any plants you want to trade or sell pm me. We are not too far from each other.

Andrew

momoese · 09-23-2008, 12:11 AM

Thanks, PM sent.

Pithy_Cherub · 09-23-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magilla Gorilla

La Conchita is close to Santa Barbara and still has a few bananas in locals gardens. Doug Richardson is a really nice guy! He still sells bananas. His prices and plants are great! Last month he was moving his operation. I picked up 3 Mysore, 1 Ice Cream, 3 Monzano, 1 Red Iholena, I Jamacian Red.

Andrew

OMG - he's still in business!?! I looked & googled & couldn't find anything recent - I'm so glad to hear he's still at it!

And totally agree @ his plants & prices ... he's a banana god!

When he gets to his new digs & starts selling again, maybe you could give us a heads up?

.

Magilla Gorilla · 09-23-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pithy_Cherub

OMG - he's still in business!?! I looked & googled & couldn't find anything recent - I'm so glad to hear he's still at it!

And totally agree @ his plants & prices ... he's a banana god!

When he gets to his new digs & starts selling again, maybe you could give us a heads up?

.

HEADS UP!! I started a new thread with his contact info. I spoke with him tonight.

Andrew

Pithy_Cherub · 09-24-2008, 02:54 AM

Woo-hoo! Thanks!

mskitty38583 · 09-24-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pithy_Cherub

I only have cats now!

ha ha ha now all you have to worry about is the kitties potting in the dirt! you may end up with more varigation on your ae ae then you expected!

09-19-2008, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
sbfarrington Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1 BananaBucks : 20,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Bananas...in California??? I was recently told there is a banana plantation (small) on the Central California coast. Does anyone have any info about this??? Thanks!

09-19-2008, 09:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 81,605 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? It's gone. Banana Grower Slipped Up by Legal Wrangling - Los Angeles Times Last edited by momoese : 09-19-2008 at 10:04 PM.

09-19-2008, 10:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
pharazon pharazon's Photo Gallery Location: Temecula, CA Zone: 9 Name: Dave Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 105 BananaBucks : 12,644 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 17 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 16 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? Are there any members here who had the opportunity to visit the former plantation?

09-20-2008, 12:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pithy_Cherub Member Pithy_Cherub's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 103 BananaBucks : 9,440 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 18 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? Seaside Banana Gardens hooked me up w/my 1st AeAe years ago ... I blame them for the addiction that followed! It was a beautiful plantation - I hoped Richardson would be able to relocate & was sorry to see he hadn't.

09-20-2008, 12:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
pharazon pharazon's Photo Gallery Location: Temecula, CA Zone: 9 Name: Dave Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 105 BananaBucks : 12,644 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 17 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 16 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? Any photographs?

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09-20-2008, 01:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 630,772 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? One of my relatives has an illustrated map of Mentone, CA drawn in 1856. Besides showing many citrus ranches and nurseries each with 50,000 to 150,000 trees, it also shows 200+ acres of bananas parallel to Crafton Avenue. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

09-20-2008, 02:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
pharazon pharazon's Photo Gallery Location: Temecula, CA Zone: 9 Name: Dave Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 105 BananaBucks : 12,644 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 17 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 16 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? That dog had expensive tastes..

09-20-2008, 01:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Magilla Gorilla Magilla Gorilla's Photo Gallery Location: Holualoa, HI Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Andrew Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 727 BananaBucks : 223,646 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 612 Times Was Thanked 1,183 Times in 357 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 79 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? La Conchita is close to Santa Barbara and still has a few bananas in locals gardens. Doug Richardson is a really nice guy! He still sells bananas. His prices and plants are great! Last month he was moving his operation. I picked up 3 Mysore, 1 Ice Cream, 3 Monzano, 1 Red Iholena, I Jamacian Red. Andrew __________________ Andrew

09-20-2008, 03:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 103,036 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? I found an article regarding the Richardsons, et. al, and their banana operation. This appears to be the latest article regarding their operation, albeit, the article was written in 2002. The Banana Man: A Comeback Story - Los Angeles Times It has contact information, even. I don't know if they would still be current, if as Andrew reports, they were moving last month. Andrew - Santa Barbara people are tough cookies over there. I was an engineer for Costco when they were building their facility in Goleta. There were so many unique requirements for them to build there, including Spanish tile roof and all, that the cost of the building was at least 25% more than any Costco in southern CA. One time I was given 30 minutes notice (before flight time from Seattle) to go there to meet with building officials, else they'd hold up final inspections another week and a half, if no one can answer their questions. I loved it there. It kinda was like being on Waikiki beach on a cool day.

09-22-2008, 01:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 81,605 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? Thanks Andrew! Could you pm me with his phone number please.

09-23-2008, 12:11 AM	#16 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 81,605 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? Thanks, PM sent.

09-24-2008, 02:54 AM	#19 (permalink)
Pithy_Cherub Member Pithy_Cherub's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 103 BananaBucks : 9,440 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 18 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Bananas...in California??? Woo-hoo! Thanks!

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