Suncoast Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Club

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Meetings This Year

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the
Nokomis Community Center
234 East Nippino Trail
Nokomis
FL 34275

Enjoy monthly guest lectures on
tropical fruit, vegetables and related topics, a free tasting table,
plant and seed exchange while enjoying the fellowship of new friends with similar interests

Meetings 2019 Speaker Topic
9 January
Alex Salazar, Tropical Acres Farms
West Palm Beach
Alex will present a unique perspective on the history, traits, uses, applicability, growing practices, and information about different Sapodilla (Manilkara Zapota) cultivars that can be found in Florida.
Sapodilla, Slide Show Presentation pdf 32 pages
1 February
Friday
ECHO Farm Tour
13 February Marc Williams Wild Edible Plants of Florida pdf
13 March Ali Sarkhosh, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Tree Fruit and Viticulture,
Horticulture Sciences Department, UF/IFAS
Peaches, Persimmons, and Pomegranates
Peach, Slide Show Presentation pdf 43 pages
Pomegranate, Slide Show Presentation pdf 45 pages
16 March
Saturday
Spring Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9am to 2pm
10 April Alexander Howe, Bush Ninja Botanicals
8 May Dr. Daniel Carrillo and Dr. Alexandra Revynthi
Tropical Research & Education Center
Department of Entomology & Nematology
University of Florida
Lychee Erinose Mite and Laurel Wilt and its Impact on Florida Avocado Trees pdf
Laurel Wilt, Slide Show Presentation pdf 29 pages
Research update: Lychee Erinose Mite, Slide Show Presentation pdf 27 pages
12 June Dr. Robert Weisberg
Distinguished University Professor,
Physical Oceanography, College of Marine Science University of South Florida.
Red Tide Forensics: So That's What Happened
1. Red Tide: What we know, don’t know and what is needed
2. Circulation tools/applications for Florida’s West Coast
, Slide Show Presentation pdf 25 pages
10 July Dr. Larry Brand
Professor of Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Department of Marine Biology and Ecology.
Red Tide and Blue/Green Algae, Causes, Human Impacts and Health Consequences
14 August Dr. Gary Mormino
the Frank E. Duckwall Professor Emeritus in Florida history, University of South Florida
Ten Florida Foods That Define Florida
11 September Dr. Lauren Diepenbrock
Assistant Professor, Entomology, Citrus Entomology Extension Specialist, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS.
Citrus Pest Management Update and Its Impact Beyond Citrus
9 October Steve Cucura, Fruitscapes Nursery Members Special Order Fruit Tree Sale, 6pm
Breeding New Varieties of Fruit Trees, 7pm
13 November Marc Frank
Extension Botanist, University of Florida Herbarium
How Plants Work: Understanding Plant Toxicity
What is a Herbarium?
11 December Members' Only Holiday Party


Meetings 2018 Speaker Topic
10 January
Alex Salazar, Tropical Acres Farms The Challenge of Growing Mangos in Florida in 2018 pdf
14 February Marc Williams, Ethnobotanist
Executive Director, Plants and Healers International
Food as Medicine pdf
10 March
Saturday
Spring Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9am to 2pm
14 March Bill Mee, Lychees Online Growing Lychees in Florida pdf
11 April Dennis Giardina
Everglades Region Biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Exotic Species Control, Endangered Species Recovery and the Florida Panther pdf
9 May Sharon Juraszek
Creator and Owner, Fermentlicious
Fermentation: Cultivation and Benefits pdf
13 June Andy Firk
Bamboo Grove Oranic Farm
40 Clumping Bamboo Species for Florida
11 July Roy Beckford, Ph.D.,
Lee County Extension Director and Agricultural/Natural Resources Agent, UF/IFAS
The Impact and Status of Honeybees in Florida
Slide Show Presentation pdf 30 pages
8 August Dr. Seonghee Lee, Assistant Professor
Strawberry Molecular Genetics & Genomics,
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, UF/IFAS
New Technologies with Traditional Breeding to Improve Florida Fruits and Vegetables pdf
12 September Ed Rosenthal
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Florikan ESA
Veggies in Space pdf
10 October - Canceled due to Hurricane Michael -
Dr. Daniel Carrillo
Assistant Professor Entomology and Nematology,
Tropical Fruit Crops,
UF/IFAS, Tropical Research and Education Center
Avocados, Lychees and Longans pdf
13 October
Saturday
Fall Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9am to 2pm
18 November
Sunday
Marc Minno, Ph.D Conserving Florida's Insect Pollinators - Lessons from Cuba
12:30pm
12 December Members Only Holiday Party


Meetings 2017 Speaker Topic
11 January
Dr. Kevan Main
Director and Senior Scientist Program Manager for the Marine and Freshwater Aquaculture Research Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture,
Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL
Sustainable Approaches to Growing Redfish and Sea Vegetables for Local Communities pdf
8 February Dr. Noris Ledesma
Curator of Tropical Fruit
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Training and Pruning a Mango Orchard to Improve Blooming and Yield in South Florida pdf
4 March
Saturday
Spring Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9:00am to 2:00pm
8 March Marcie Dallmann Forest Gardens in East Kalimantan, Borneo pdf
22 March
Wednesday
Pine Island Farm Tour  Conducted by Dr. Roy Beckford
Lee County Extension Director and Agricultural/Natural Resources Agent University of Florida/IFAS
12 April
Bob Stuhlman Growing and Keeping Citrus Trees Healthy and Productive
10 May Jim Ewing Creating an Edible Forest in a Permaculture Model pdf
14 June Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, Assistant Professor, Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida/IFAS,
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
Developing Alternative Specialty Crops in Florida: Opportunities and Challenges pdf
including Blackberry, Pomegranate, Artichoke and Hops.
12 July Jenny and David Burd Everything You Wanted to Know About Mangos...and More pdf
Meeting notes pdf
9 August Qingren Wang, Ph.D. University of Florida/IFAS Growing Asian Vegetables pdf
13 September  - Canceled due to Hurricane Irma -
Dr. Seonghee Lee, Assistant Professor
Strawberry Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida/IFAS,
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
Next Generation Disease Resistance Breeding for Florida Strawberry and Other Fruits and Vegetables pdf
11 October Andy Firk
Bamboo Grove Oranic Farm
50 Southeast Asian Plants for Florida pdf
14 October
Saturday
Fall Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9:00am to 2:00pm
8 November Roz Barminski
of the Hope Clubhouse in Fort Myers
Recovery from Mental Illness Through Community Garden Based Work  pdf
13 December Members' Holiday Party


Meetings 2016 Speaker Topic
13 January Andy Firk
Bamboo Grove Oranic Farm
Edible Gingers and Edible Bamboo  pdf
16 January
Saturday
Trip to Pine Island Botanicals
27 January Members Workshop Meeting Build Your Own Grow Box
presented by Gary Patton
10 February Noris Ledesma, Ph.D.,
Curator of Tropical Fruit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Pruning and Shaping Mango Trees pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 56 pages
24 February Members Workshop Meeting Creating Sustainability in a Small Garden Plot
by Molly Bartlett and Peg Witek
5 March
Saturday
Spring Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9:00am to 2:00pm
9 March Dr. Jeffrey Williamson,
Professor Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida/IFAS
Blueberries, Blackberries and Olive Trees pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 112 pages
23 March Members Workshop Meeting  
13 April Marty Mesh,
Executive Director Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Association
What's Organic About Organic pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 30 pages
11 May Dr. Jonathan Crane,
Tropical Fruit Specialist and Professor of Horticulture, University of Florida/IFAS
Flowering of Tropical Fruit Crops pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 75 pages
8 June Adrienne Diaz Growing Edibles in Small Spaces pdf
13 July Laura Reiley Farm to Fable pdf
23 July
Saturday
Member’s Workshop conducted by Bob Stuhlman Growing and Keeping Citrus Trees Healthy and Productive
From 9:30am to approximately 12:00/12:30pm
10 August Cristina Babiak, M.D.
cristinababiakmd.com
Homegrown Medicine pdf
14 September Roy Beckford, PhD
County Extension Director
UF/IFAS Lee County Extension
Best Practices for Tropical Fruits in the Southwest Florida Environment pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 32 pages
8 October
Saturday
Tropical Fruit Tree Sale
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9:00am to 2:00pm
12 October Xin Zhao, PhD
Associate Professor
Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production
Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida
Vegetable Grafting pdf
9 November Debbie Hughes, Senior Horticulturist
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
What is Old is New Again in the Garden pdf
14 December  Members' Holiday Party  


Meetings 2015 Speaker Topic
14 January Crafton Clift and Berto Silva Survival Foods and Part 2: Unusual and Rare Fruits That Adapted, or may adapt to Cultivation in Florida pdf
Presentation Part B pdf 20 pages
11 February Noris Ledesma, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Growing Tropical Fruits in South Florida pdf
Presentation: Golden Harvest Canistel pdf 44 pages
11 March Danny Blank of 12 Seasons Farm Edible Landscaping with an Organic Approach pdf
14 March
Saturday
Tropical Fruit Tree Sale/Spring Garden Festival
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9:00am to 2:00pm
30 March Grafting Class at Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden conducted by Noris Ledesma
Grafting Class Handout pdf 8 pages
8 April Andy Firk
www.bamboogrovefarm.com
50 Perennial Vegetables for Florida pdf
25 April
Saturday
Earth Day 2015 at the Florida House Institute and
Suncoast Science Faulhaber Fab Lab
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities . Food . Free Admission . Free Parking pdf
www.flhouse.org
www.suncoastscience.org
13 May www.floridaurbanorganics.com, Christian Colarusso, Director of Operations Hydroponics and Aquaponics pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 27 pages
10 June Dr. Mercy A. Olmstead, Ph.D.
University of Florida - IFAS
Peach, Nectarine, Plum and Grape Specialist
Florida Stone Fruit – A Taste of Summer in the Spring: Production and Challenges pdf
Slide Show Presentention pdf 68 pages
8 July Picnic and Movie at the Community Center (Members Only)  
12 August Dr. Brent Weisman, Ph.D.
Master Beekeeper
University of South Florida Botanical Gardens
Pollination: What Do Bees Get Out of It? pdf
Slide Show Presentation pdf 17 pages
1 September
Tuesday
Fruit Tree Pruning Class conducted by Noris Ledesma and Dr. Richard Campbell
Fairchild Farm, Homestead, FL
Lecture and Hands-on Instruction
Details of the tour pdf: Pruning Seminar at Fairchild Farm, Tour of Verde Community Farm and Market, Lunch at Verde Kitchen
9 September Stephen Brown
University of Florida/IFAS Lee County Extension
Horticultural Program Leader Agent, Commercial and Home Garden Horticulture
Some New and Old Pests of Tropical Fruits and Fruit Trees pdf
10 October
Saturday
Tropical Fruit Tree Sale Garden Festival
at the Nokomis Community Center
Information pdf
From 9:00am to 2:00pm
14 October Laurel Schiller, Florida Native Plants Nursery
www.floridanativeplants.com
Native Edibles for All
11 November Martin Price, PhD
Served 25 years as ECHO International’s founding Executive Director
Southwest Florida Gardening Through the Three Seasons pdf
9 December Members' Holiday Party  


Meetings 2014 Speaker Topic
8 Jan Stephen Brady How I Manage to Grow 600 Fruit Trees on 2 Acres
12 Feb Erica Klopf
Florida Edible Landscaping
floridaediblelandscaping.com
Edible Landscaping for the Home Garden plus
The Grimal Grove, Big Pine Key, Florida
12 Mar Noris Ledesma, Curator of Tropical Fruit, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden For the Love of Mangos
15 Mar Saturday Tropical Fruit Tree Sale at the Nokomis Community Center 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
9 Apr Steve Cucura, Fruitscapes Nursery Drip Irrigation for Fruit Trees in the Florida Home Garden
Speaker notes
14 May Monica Brandies
Florida Gardens website
gardensflorida.com
Growing and Using Herbs and Summer Edibles
20 May Tours of Fairchild Farm and the Fruit and Spice Park  
11 Jun Fitzroy (Roy) Beckford, Lee County Extension Director and Agricultural/Natural Resources Agent, University of Florida/IFAS Understanding Vegetable Garden Insects (Pest and Predators).
Roy Beckford's Presentation notes pdf 53 pages
9 Jul Picnic at the Community Center (Members Only)  
13 Aug Aloe Organics Farm
aloeorg.com
Aloe Organics: Organic Farming in Memory of Allison Hall Nelson
10 Sep Berto Silva Unusual and Rare Fruits That Adapted or May Adapt to Cultivation in Florida.
Presentation Notes
8 Oct Chris Rollins, Manager, Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, FL Tropical Vegetables
18 Oct Saturday
Suncoast Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Club Fall Garden Festival We will have our Fall Tropical Fruit Tree Sale/Garden Festival at the Nokomis Community Center from 9:00am - 2:00pm.
Printable Flyer and Plant List
Organic Herb and Vegetable Seed List
Heirloom Vegetable Seed List
12 Nov Peggy Sieburth, PhD
Biological Administrator III
Citrus Germplasm Introduction Program
Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration
Division of Plant Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
“The Florida Citrus Repository – Creating Citrus for Tomorrow.”
 Peggy Sieburth's Presentation Notes pdf 45 pages
10 Dec Members' Holiday Party  


Meetings 2013 Speaker Topic
January 9th Wayne Clifton Vegetables for Florida
February 13th Crafton Clift The Fruit Hunter
March 13th Steve Cucura of Fruitscapes Nursery Growing Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits in South West Florida
March 16th Tropical Fruit Tree Sale At the Nokomis Community Center
April 10th Chef Pouget The Art of French Cooking with Vegetables and Fruits from Your Garden
Menus and Recipes
May 8th Cristina Babiak M.D.
cristinababiakmd.com
Common Florida Garden Plants with a Purpose
Make Infused Medicine with Herbs
June 12th Dennis Cathcart of Tropiflora
tropiflora.com
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay
July 10th Barbara Rendell Fantastic Fermented Foods
Meeting Notes and Recipes
August 14th Stephen Brown, Lee County Extension Director & Horticultural Program Leader, University of Florida/IFAS Some Fruits of Jamacia (and other sufficiently warm locations)
Presentation notes
September 11th Keyvan Antonio Heydari Viva Mango
October 9th Chris Rollins, Manager, Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, FL Pesticide Free Gardening with Rare and Unusual Fruits and Vegetables for South West Florida
October 19th
Saturday
Fall Garden Festival Suncoast Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Club The Fall Garden Festival will be at the Nokomis Community Center from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.  There will be for sale fruit trees, vegetable plants and more. Printable Flyer.
November 13th An exclusive presentation for members only
We cannot show the film to the public
“A Night at the Movies”, THE FRUIT HUNTERS

An exclusive presentation for members only
December 11th Members' Holiday Party  

Englewood, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Venice

Contact Us
suncoastfruitandveg@outlook.com



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Meetings This Year


Published 2013 KJ. Last update 30 Dec. 2019 KJ
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