Citrus Growers Forum

dauben · Posted: Sun 29 Apr, 2007 3:43 am

My sister is having a baby next week and we'll be driving past UC Riverside. I thought about stopping by for a visit since I spent a good deal of time there before I became interested in citrus. Does anyone know if they allow people to pick fruit? I remember someone telling me that budwood was out of the question, but I didn't know if fruit gathering was allowable. If I had to guess, I would say probably not, since I remember seeing trees packed with fruit when working on the campus and wondering why no one was eating it. Does anyone know for sure?

Phillip

Patty_in_wisc · Posted: Sun 29 Apr, 2007 4:48 am

Awhhh what the heck Phillip. Just bring your clippers & get a moist paper towel & clip away. It won't hurt the plants.
Why is no one posting here lately? Too busy or what?

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Patty
I drink wine to make other people more interesting Wink

JoeReal · Posted: Sun 29 Apr, 2007 11:01 am

Another major yard project and the weather is perfect, I'm at yard work at crack of dawn till it gets hot in the afternoon. Rest of afternoons are start of barbecue parties lasting past midnight. So my only time is in the wee hours of the morning.

Millet · Posted: Sun 29 Apr, 2007 7:21 pm

When Citrus Joe and I visited UCR (CCPP) we were allowed to pick and eat as much as we desired. The person conducting the tour did mention that visitors are a bit of a pain, because of all the time they take out of their work day. He (no names mentioned) said the worst visitors of all were the CRFG visitors. I did not mention that I belonged to the CRFG. - Millet

dauben · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2007 2:13 am

Millet wrote:

When Citrus Joe and I visited UCR (CCPP) we were allowed to pick and eat as much as we disired. The person conducting the tour did mention that visitors are a bit of a pain, because of al the time they take out of their work day. He (no names mentioned) the the worst visitors of all were the CRFG visitors. I did not mention that I belon to the CRFG. - Millet

Well it sounds like I might just have to stop by UCR next weekend to poke around with the wife and kids. The last thing I wanted though was to be handcuffed and laid out on the hood of a campus police car for eating fruit. I can see it now. The kids are crying, daddy's chewing quickly to dispose of evidence, and my wife's promising to still be around when I get out of the hoosegow. To make matters worse, I happen to be arrested by the one guy in all of Southern California that has the film crew with "COPS" riding shotgun. You'll all see me next season. "Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do . . . . ."

Ohh my, I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight thinking of what could have been. Smile

.

Millet, as far as the CRFG, next time just tell them you're a member of the other CRFG (Colorado Rare Fruit Growers). Smile

Phillip

Millet · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2007 1:58 pm

Phillip, I doubt that you can just walk into the UCR grove on your own and start picking and eating fruit. Certainly, I think you would get into trouble. You should go into the UCR or CCPP field office, which is on the same grounds as the trees, and get permission. Joe and I were always with a CCPP employee. Other wise your children might have to visit you in jail. - Millet

JoeReal · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2007 2:23 pm

Millet wrote:

... The person conducting the tour did mention that visitors are a bit of a pain, because of all the time they take out of their work day. He (no names mentioned) said the worst visitors of all were the CRFG visitors. I did not mention that I belonged to the CRFG. - Millet

Certainly I haven't visited the physical site, so it is not me or my companions, though I'm CRFG member. I only sneak in from time to time in UC Davis citrus screenhouses or green houses.

And speaking of citrus collections, there is yet another extensive set down there aside from UCR and Lindcove, and they have been keeping their citruses in screenhouses only, and have many unique varieties that are not in the UCR germplasm. So they seldom offer budwoods. But they do keep the citruses very small and in 15 gallon containers by tremendously pruning them.

dauben · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2007 7:58 pm

Millet wrote:

Phillip, I doubt that you can just walk into the UCR grove on your own and start picking and eating fruit. Certainly, I think you would get into trouble. You should go into the UCR or CCPP field office, which is on the same grounds as the trees, and get permission. Joe and I were always with a CCPP employee. Other wise your children might have to visit you in jail. - Millet

Who knows maybe my kids will have such a cute innocent look, they will let us all go. Then again I could just park the car and open the door. My daugher would run off like she normally does and I can claim that it was her picking all of the fruit. I was just trying to stop her! Smile

She's getting pretty good at picking my trees. I need to stop planting trees on Flying Dragon rootstock so that she can't reach the branches.

Anyway, I'll definitely stop by their field office if I end up going.

Thanks,
Phillip

gregn · Posted: Thu 03 May, 2007 11:30 am

Phillip, if you see that corregated navel, cut off a bit of the branch for me Laughing

Let us know how it goes!

Greg
( maybe get your kids to smell some onions before talking to the guy get their eyes watering - perhaps he will be sympathetic or use the "Daddy I have to go to the bathroom trick" Exclamation

)

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Gregn, citrus enthusiast. North Vancouver Canada. USDA zone 8. I grow In-ground citrus, Palms and bananas. Also have container citrus

citrusboy · Posted: Tue 08 May, 2007 2:37 am

Hi Philip,

Call or send them an email as you will have to be escorted around. There are trees in different areas all over the UCR campus. Best to have a list of what you what available so you aren't running them willy nilly all over the place. Bring a big bag or bags.

They are pretty strict about budwood as the cutting utensils have to be cleaned after every cut so not to transmit any disease from tree to tree. I wouldn't suggest trying to sneak and getting caught as that may have an adverse affect on the rest of us folks who like visiting UCR. Or, you being put in Citrus jail...

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citrusboy aka marc