For fifteen years the Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida, TFGSF, has exemplified what can happen when a group of people have common goals, are determined, and work hard. TFGSF members have volunteered their time and money over the years to help the tropical fruit industry reach for the prominence in the marketplace that the growers have long felt it deserves through means of education, acquisition of funds, and lots of legwork. The TFGSF idea began in late 1987 when Fruit & Spice Park director, Chris Rollins, urged a group of local tropical fruit growers to form an organization to support the “minor” crop industry. The groups’ goals were to educate themselves to become better growers, and to promote research and marketing of tropical fruit. In 1988, this group incorporated and became known as the Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida, Inc. The group immediately began to make themselves be noticed by attempting to form an advisory group to represent the industry at the state level. TFGSF member and Homestead attorney Brent Probinsky volunteered many hours working toward this goal ultimately creating the Tropical Fruit Policy Act which was passed by the Florida State Legislature in 1990. This act called for the formation of the Tropical Fruit Advisory Committee, which meets monthly with representatives from the Florida Department of Agriculture along with individuals from the Florida tropical fruit industry (i.e., growers, packers, shippers). Closer to home, other board members were at work advising the County on policies regarding local farming issues. This group eventually evolved into the Miami-Dade County Agricultural Practices Board that continues today helping the County to understand the unique issues that confront all farmers in Miami-Dade County.

TFGSF was at the same time working to help its’ members become better at growing their crops through research. In the early 1990’s the carambola growers within TFGSF formed a research committee that established a 1¢/pound assessment for packed carambola. With the $270,000 they raised, six research projects on carambola were funded through TREC. The results of these projects, as well as all other projects since then, have been presented to the industry at commodity meetings throughout the years. After Hurricane Andrew, TFGSF members aimed their efforts at securing funding from the state to help the tropical fruit industry get back on its feet. Members traveled to Tallahassee, made phone calls, wrote letters, met with local legislators, and eventually, were successful in obtaining special funding appropriations through the State Legislature and Governor’s Office. For four of the next five years the tropical fruit industry received a total of $1.1 million for research and promotion of tropical fruit. The research money generated 72 scientific projects through TREC, United States Department of Agriculture, and Fairchild Tropical Gardens, and addressed topics on pests, diseases, post harvest studies, plant nutrition, etc. The marketing funds produced two videos, cookbooks, posters, informational brochures, and an award winning website all through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services TFGSF today continues to be active in local farming issues, promoting Florida’s tropical fruit industry at trade shows, seeking sources of funding for research and education, and keeping a place for Florida’s tropical fruit in this dynamic market. The global marketplace demands that the tropical fruit industry become more creative and thoughtful in their marketing practices, and this same global economy exposes our industry to ever changing threats from diseases and pests. The Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida will continue to search for ways to help the growers meet and overcome these challenges. TFGSF always welcomes new members who want to help the tropical fruit industry. Top of Page - Print this Page   Taste the Florida's Tropics - Cable - Tap shows 1 - 12 Chef Allen Susser - Chef Allen's Bill Mee - Lychee's online Charlie Laub - Laub Groves Diego Rodriguez - Reland's Quality Produce Chris Rollins - Fruit & Spice Park Roberto Perez- Greenland Nursey Roger Washington - Red Dragon Fruit Company Dan & Katie Chafin - Going Bananas Nursery Reed Olszack - Tropical Fruit Advisor Committee Denise Schnebly - Schnebly, Redland's Winery Erik Tietig - Pine Island Nursery Marc Ellenby - LNB Groves
Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida - Board of Directors
Ms. Louise E. King, President tropicalfruitgrowers@earthlink.net
Mr. Don Chafin goingbananas@bellsouth.net	Mr. Dewey Steele, stee9190@bellsouth.net
Mr. Harry Miller, Director lycheekingscata@yahoo.com	Mr. Reed Olszack, Director rolszack@earthlink.net
Mr. Dave Romney, Director canadoshim@msn.com	Mr. Sal Santelli, Director santel80@bellsouth.com