What is the CRFG Festival of Fruit?
The CRFG Festival of Fruit is an annual celebration of rare, unusual, and exotic fruits. Organized by the California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG), the festival unites backyard gardeners, commercial growers, horticulture experts, and fruit enthusiasts. Moreover, the CRFG Festival of Fruit serves as both an educational conference and a community gathering for all attendees.
Typically, CRFG’s regional chapters host the festival, rotating locations throughout the organization each year. For example, past events were held in Orange County, Hawaii, Los Angeles County, San Diego, Arizona and the Central Coast of California. Additionally, the CRFG Festival of Fruit usually spans one or more days and features structured activities to educate and inspire.
A major highlight of the festival is its lineup of expert speakers sharing practical guidance. Topics often include tropical and subtropical fruit cultivation, grafting techniques, soil health, pest management, irrigation, and climate-adapted growing methods. Furthermore, CRFG members, university researchers, nursery professionals, and commercial orchardists lead presentations offering science-based guidance for attendees.
In addition to lectures and workshops, the festival provides fruit tastings showcasing rare and hard-to-find varieties. Participants can sample cherimoya, white sapote, jaboticaba, finger lime, and specialty mango cultivars, depending on seasonal availability. Moreover, vendor and exhibit booths offer fruit trees, seeds, tools, books, and gardening supplies to attendees. These opportunities allow visitors to purchase new varieties and connect directly with local nurseries and growers.
Community engagement plays a central role in the CRFG Festival of Fruit. Attendees are encouraged to network, mentor, and exchange scion wood, seeds, and growing tips. Additionally, the festival supports CRFG’s mission of preserving rare fruit varieties and promoting sustainable, home-scale food production.
CRFG’s Impact
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Membership: Over 3,100 members worldwide
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Chapters: 18 regional chapters across the western U S and internationally
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Fruit Varieties: Over 1,000 fruits listed with cultural data for 700+ species
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Global Reach: Members in 48 U.S. states, U.S. territories, and 35+ countries
What is the California Rare Fruit Growers Organization?
The California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) is a nonprofit organization devoted to cultivating, preserving, and enjoying rare and exotic fruits. Founded in 1968 by Paul Thomson and John Riley, CRFG began as a small group passionate about discovering and growing unusual fruits. Over the decades, the organization has grown into the world’s largest amateur fruit-growing community, connecting thousands of members across the U.S. and internationally.
CRFG provides a variety of educational resources for members and the public, including newsletters, publications, and the bimonthly Fruit Gardener magazine. The magazine features articles on fruit cultivation, plant propagation, and innovative growing techniques. Additionally, the organization hosts workshops, conferences, and events, allowing gardeners and enthusiasts to gain practical, science-based knowledge from experts. Through these programs, CRFG fosters learning, networking, and the exchange of rare fruit varieties and cultivation expertise.