| PURPOSE | MEETINGS | MEETING COMPONENTS | OFFICERS/COMMITTEES | COOKBOOK | PLANT SALE | CALENDAR | MAP |

Founded in 1978, became a RFCI Chapter in 1996. Located in South West Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. We have about 100 members of all levels of experience.

PURPOSE (Stated Object of Organization)
To be an active, non-profit organization dedicated to the following objectives: To introduce, propagate and distribute the many rare tropical and subtropical fruits grown throughout the world; to educate its members and the public as to the merits of these plants; and to encourage and extend their cultivation.

MEETINGS

General meetings are at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Lee County Extension Building at Terry Park. The day and date of each meeting, usually the first Tuesday of the month, are dependent upon meeting room availability. Meeting schedules will be noted in the newsletter. Parking and entrance is at the back of the building.

The meeting agenda provides members the opportunity to gain knowledge about particular concerns of growing and caring for tropical fruit plants. There is usually a speaker presenting a topic of interest to the membership.

Board meetings are usually held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. preceding the general meeting. All members are welcome to attend. Ideas and suggestions or recommendations for changes in club activities should be presented to the board. This consideration will provide for a smoother flow of the general meeting.

MEETING COMPONENTS

Badges: The badge box contains badges for all current members. Badges are to be worn during the meeting and returned to the badge box when leaving.

Door Prize: A tropical fruit plant is awarded the lucky winner at each general meeting. The winning ticket is drawn at the conclusion of the meeting. If the winner declines the plant, another number shall be drawn. 50/50: Take a chance on winning half of the pot. Tickets are one dollar each or three for two dollars. The clubs half of the funds collected go to the general fund. The winning ticket is drawn after the meeting is adjourned. Participation in this activity is optional.

Plant Exchange Table: Members may bring to meetings tropical fruit plants they wish to donate to other club members or to swap for plants brought in by other members. Anyone bringing plants to the meeting is given a ticket at the exchange table. When the meeting is adjourned, members with tickets have the first option on taking a plant from the table. The general membership is welcome to take any remaining plants after members with tickets have claimed their selections.

Any citrus plant brought to the exchange table must be identified with a state certified grower registration number tag.

Tasting Table: The purpose of the tasting table is to provide the club members an opportunity to taste fresh tropical fruits and to sample recipes using tropical fruits. Members are encouraged to participate in this activity and to share recipes of items brought to the tasting table. This event takes place after the general meeting has been adjourned.

Library: The club maintains a library of books and tapes and periodicals that pertain to tropical fruit plants. Members are encouraged to utilize this free source of information.

Members wishing to use the library should do so before the general meeting begins. A retainer is required ($25.00 minimum or face value of the resource), and is returned when the resource is returned.

Other Activities: Occasionally, club members are presented the opportunity to participate in visits to nurseries, gardens, and homes of individuals who are successful in growing tropical fruits. Participation in these events is educational and enjoyable.

COOKBOOK

The Cookbook we have published is very useful and contains over 250 pages.  Besides recipes, it contains sketches of the fruit with information about the fruit and a handy reference appendix.

   PRICE:  $25.00 plus S&H

PLANT SALE

Once a year, usually in the spring, the club conducts a tropical fruit plant sale where rare and unusual tropical fruit plants are sold.. This event provides most of the revenue needed in operating the organization. This is an event that requires full membership participation. 

Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange will have our plant sale in October 15, 2011, at Terry Park in Ft. Myers. Fruit for tasting will be available. Contact Rachel Singletary (239) 543-9910. This is an easy sale to find and you can expect many plants. Terry park is on Palm Beach Blvd. (SR 80), EAST of US 41. Take I-75 exit # 25 (SR 80) and the park is to the WEST.

Thanks to all who attended and made the 2010 sale a success. See you in October.

| PURPOSE | MEETINGS | MEETING COMPONENTS | OFFICERS/COMMITTEES | COOKBOOK | PLANT SALE | CALENDAR | MAP |

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES
 | Lee County UF IFAS Extension | ECHO | Fort Myers - Lee County Garden Council |

Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange
Terry Park
3406 Palm Beach Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33916

created 05/24/10, rev 11/29/11
Web design ©2010 Denrig, Inc., All rights reserved.
Content (text/photos) ©2010 Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange, All rights reserved.

Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange ~ CALENDAR


| PURPOSE | MEETINGS | MEETING COMPONENTS | OFFICERS/COMMITTEES | COOKBOOK | PLANT SALE | CALENDAR | MAP |

Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange

OFFICERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

| PURPOSE | MEETINGS | MEETING COMPONENTS | OFFICERS/COMMITTEES | COOKBOOK | PLANT SALE | CALENDAR | MAP |

View Larger Map, Get Directions, and more

| PURPOSE | MEETINGS | MEETING COMPONENTS | OFFICERS/COMMITTEES | COOKBOOK | PLANT SALE | CALENDAR | MAP |