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Tropical Fruit Club Newsletter
November 2007
The
sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can
still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing
else in the universe to do.
- Galileo
Officers:
President: Ervin Jannsen Vice President: Abe White Treasurer: Lincoln Lai Secretaries: Joann Maynard,
Pete von Lersner, Heidi Flinchbaugh Newsletter & Mailing: Pam Flesher Refreshments: Yolanda Curtis Librarian: Shirley Silvasy
Program: Featured speaker is Sid Van Landingham, who will explain how a recently discovered fruit packs 200 to 1,000% more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable. The fruit is the Acai berry (pronounced Ahh—Sigh—Eee). MonaVie, a 19-fruit juice drink with the acai berry, pomegranate and wildblueberries, has a patent-pending process which the USDA used to certify the acai berry’s 1,027 ORAC units. The acai berry makes up 25% of MonaVie. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a NY Times best selling author, appeared twice on the Oprah Winfrey show where he announced the world’s top 10 superfood. Perricone chose the Acai berry as the world’s number one superfood. The berry was tested at the University of Florida, where it killed 86% of leukemia cancer cells in 24 hours.
Mr. Van Landingham will discuss the berry’s evolution in the northern regions of Brazil, its growth, harvest,
components, and what hundreds of people are experiencing with the berries. Literature and sample drinks of the juice will be given.
Welcome Aboard New Members!!!
Ryan Atwood Lake Alfred, FL David B. Blessing Orlando, FL
Jean House Winter Garden, FL Hayri Lawrence Winter Garden, FL
Dana and Stella Venrick DeBary, FL
October Meeting Minutes
President, Ervin Jannsen, called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. The minutes from the September meeting were accepted by the membership as written. Lincoln Lai read the treasurer’s report. The report approved as read by the membership. Guests: Dave Bussing (friend of Gary’s) and Theresa Schretzmann-Myers.
Old Business: The order for the Clip & Pick Fruit Picker is being placed. Pricing approx. $46. The head alone is about $23. Both estimates include the cost of postage. Check with Roberta if interested in placing an order.
Shirley is soliciting comments and feedback on the August, multi-fruit club event. Planning needs to begin sooner this year to assure the room is available on the desired day.
There is a need to put together a committee to select officers for next year – Christine and Shirley will organize.
Reminder – The Jungle Walk with Dick Smith will be this coming weekend.
New Business: Gilberto Carrasquillo, Leu Garden employee and Tropical Fruit Club member, was in an
accident but he is okay and recovering at home.
The Winter Garden Bloom & Grow Garden Festival (April 12 & 13) asked if we would like to be a vendor. Space would cost between $100 and $150. The consensus was to continue the club’s focus on the Leu Gardens Plant Sale in March.
Guest Speaker: Theresa Schretzmann-Myers provided an overview of the Nehrling Society along with the latest update on its progress in buying the property. After much debate, it was agreed that a speaker’s fee of $250 would be provided to Theresa (who pledged to donate it to the Nehrling Society).
Members and guests enjoyed the tasting table. Plant raffle winners were drawn and the meeting adjourned.
Submitted by Pete von Lersner
The club would like to say THANK YOU to Richard and Ronita Smith for their gracious hospitality. Richard and Ronita invited us to their home on October 20th for a lovely luncheon on the lanai and a tour of their beautiful tropical garden. We saw Bananas, Papayas, Sapotes, Jaboticabas, Muscadines, Pineapples, different Citrus, Macadamias, Coffees, Lychees, Carambolas, Orchids, Bromeliads, Heliconias, Anthuriums, and much more.
Approximately 50 members attended. What a great time! Thank you again Richard and Ronita. You’re the BEST!
October Tasting Table Thank You to:
Pam Flesher Carambola Salsa and chips
Thank you to members who brought in food for the tasting table but did not sign the sheet.
October Raffle Table Thank you to:
Yolanda Curtis Copper Plant Pam Flesher Avocados
Jim Ford Key Limes, Persian Limes, Starfruit Adrian Novenario Sorrell
Mort Garcia Sugar Cane, Yucca Tom Ferlauto Banana Plant
Please sign the tasting table and raffle sheet each month so we know who to thank.
The sheets are on a clipboard on each table.
A Garden Festival! South Florida's most loved garden party, a blend of old traditions and new introductions, the Ramble offers visitors over twelve acres of plants, garden accessories, antiques, food, music and activities for adults and children alike. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for children 6-17 and free to children 5 and under and Fairchild members. Located at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156
Phone: 305-667-1651 or www.ftbg.org
November 22-January 2 Holiday House
Visit the Leu House Museum decked-out for the holidays. The cost of touring the museum is included in the admission to the garden. Adults $5.00, Children $1.00 K-12. Museum hours: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1910 N. Forest Ave., Orlando. Contact: 407-246-2620 or www.leugardens.org
November 23-January 1, 2008 Christmas at Pinewood: A Jolly, Jazzy Holiday Home Tour
Christmas at Pinewood is a holiday celebration for the whole family. It features a traditional holiday home tour along with a benefit party, concerts, family days, Santa visits and Shop at Bok night events. Pinewood Estate’s 1930s Mediterranean Revival mansion is the highlight of the annual event. The home tour will showcase stunning holiday décor that accentuates the mansion’s antique furnishings and architectural elements.
Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: $18 adult; $9 children ages 5-12, free under 5;
$7 members (includes general admission to Historic Bok Sanctuary)
Historic Bok Sanctuary, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, FL 33853 For more information: Call 863.676.1408 or www.boksanctuary.org
November 22 Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks for the things you have and thanks for the things you don’t have.
Over the
river and through the woods, trot fast my dapple gray.
Spring over the ground like a hunting hound on this Thanksgiving Day, Hey!
Over the river and through the woods now Grandmother's face I spy.
Hurrah for the fun, Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie.
- English
folksong, It's Raining, It's Pouring
December 8 Lighted Boat Parade on Lake Dora waterfront in Mount Dora. Starts at 7:00 pm. Bring your folding chair if you like. Free. For more information: 352-735-9629
Leu Gardens Plant Sale March 29 & 30, 2008
March will be here before we know. The plant sale is the Tropical Fruit Club’s fund raiser for the year. We need lots of plants to sell so please start getting plants ready. There will be free plant tags and pots available at the next meeting.
Florida U-Pick Farms Please, call before you go.
Gordon’s Grove,
1624 Hazen Road, DeLand, FL 32720 Telephone: (386) 734-0620
Products: Navel oranges, grapefruits, red navels, amber sweet, Orlando tangelos,
white tangelos, Hamlin oranges
Late-October through March.
Hickory Tree Grove, 4510 Audubon Ave., DeLeon Springs, FL 32130 Telephone: (386) 985-1655 Products: Navel oranges, grapefruit Open: December through January Web: www.flnaturalcitrus.com
Ridge Island Groves,
6000 Old Polk City Rd., Haines City, FL 33844 Telephone: (863) 422-0333
Products: oranges, tangerines Open: November through April.
Valley View Vineyard,
22370 County Road 455, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737 Telephone: (352) 243-4032
Products: Figs, peaches, persimmons, pomegranate, muscadine grapes, citrus:
navel, tangelos, lemons, limes, ponkan orange Open: February through December.
White's Nursery,
3305 County Road 557A, Polk City, FL Telephone: (863) 984-2238
Products: Tomatoes (table, grape, cherry, and slicing varieties, no canning
varieties) Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weather permitting
Please call for picking as season changes.
Oak Haven Farms,
32430 Bird Rd., Sorrento, Florida 32776 Telephone: (352) 735-1996
Open: Call for operating hours Products: Strawberries, Christmas trees.
Santa's Christmas Tree Forest, 35317 Huff Rd., Eustis, FL 32736 Telephone: (352) 357-9863 Choose-and-Cut, Retail Lot, Potted, Hay Rides, Petting Farm/Zoo, Wreaths, Santa on first three weekends after 12:00. Products: Sand Pine, Red Cedar, Arizona Cypress. Open: The day after Thanksgiving through December 23, Daily, 9 a.m.- 6:30 p.m.
Watson's Christmas
Tree Farm, Choose-and-Cut, 198
Cedar Grove, Oak Hill, FL 32759 Telephone: (386) 345-2940. Red Cedar, Leyland
Cypress, Arizona Cypress. Open: Day after Thanksgiving to Christmas
Daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Did you know?
The pecan (Carya illinoensis) is native to the Americas and naturally distributed in the Mississippi Valley and the river valleys of Texas. The Indians introduced pecans to the white man by trading for tools and trinkets. In this way, the traders moved the pecan from its native range to the eastern states. The first pecan nursery was established in 1772 and from this small beginning, pecan production has grown into a multimillion dollar industry in Florida and South Georgia. - The Farm Store
Why did the strawberry call 911? It was in a jam J.
Please remember this month to return any library books that you have checked out from the club library
Tropical Fruit Club
P. O. Box 37