Tropical Fruit Program

The Tropical Fruit Program at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden continues the pioneering work of Dr. David Fairchild, founder of the Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction Division of the United States Department of Agriculture. We are committed to his far-reaching goals for the collection, conservation, curation and distribution of superior tropical fruit from the Americas and Asia.

Fairchild was one of the first people to bring the mango and avocado to Florida in the late19th century and our curators are working to bring new species of fruit and developing new cultivars to meet the growing demands for tropical  flavors. With our roots firmly anchored in traditional horticulture, we apply the newest techniques to advance the cultivation, conservation and appreciation of tropical fruit as a resource for the future.

The Tropical Fruit Collection

Fairchild has one of the largest tropical fruit collections in the world, collected from Asia, Africa and tropical America. One of the major goals of the collection, aside from scientific research, is the education of the public on how much their lives are tied to tropical horticulture and to provide a glimpse into the lives of people around the globe, who depend on these fruits for their livelihood as well as nourishment. Our collections are primarily housed in the Whitman Tropical Fruit Pavilion at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and our agricultural station at The Fairchild Farm, located in the Redland.          

 

 

 

Classes at the Fairchild Farm
Classes at the Fairchild Farm
Many new classes are being offered at the Fairchild Farm. More
Fruit Market at Fairchild
Fruit Market at Fairchild
The Fruit Market is open every Saturday at William Grove. Click for more information. More
Summer Camp
Summer Camp
The Art and Science Summer Camp at the Fairchild Farm begins July 12! More