I have been a long time lurker on this forum though I rarely post. This forum has been helpful to me many times with the few random posts I have done. I do feel compelled in this case to write about my experiences with Tropical Acres Farms. I travel constantly for extended periods of time for work and have been meaning to try Tropical Acres Farms for a couple of years, but always went back to my known spots out of habit. I recently remembered, thanks to a posting on the forum (Titled: Mango and Lychee Fruit for Sale in the Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell, and Trade Section), Tropical Acres and made my way to his stand by Southern and I-95. I must admit without seeking it out I never would have found this gem behind Dreher Park. I was surprised to find an old grove and new plantings in such an unassuming location. The variety was apparent as soon as I began poking around the offerings laid about on the tables, easily 15 cultivars though likely more. The varieties were all clearly marked and pricing was reasonable. I ended up walking away with some Lemon Zest, Venus, Mahachanok, Sweet Tart, and a few Pickerings for good measure. I had never been fortunate enough to try Venus before that day and was not disappointed. I have returned twice since that first visit and I am looking forward to trying some more Venus' and seeing how it stacks up after eating a few more examples.
For me the most impressive aspect of the whole experience was the owner/operator himself, Alex (Squam256). I was able to sit back unannounced while observing his dealings with some other patrons who mentioned they had heard of him through craigslist, but were obviously not very familiar with the “mango game” here in South Florida. What took me aback was the patience and kindness with which Alex answered their questions. Though not always the case, often I have borne witness to a snobby attitude and ridicule shown towards newcomers to the bounty of mango varieties available here in South Florida. This was not the case with Alex, he answered all their questions and approached these people with respect even when the questions they asked bordered on the ridiculous or asinine. These particular people had not even bought or picked out any mangos yet, and still Alex took the time to give them a quick education on flavor profiles without sounding demeaning or giving one of those long winded pompous answers. This is important to me, as there was once a time I did not know about flavor profiles, the Zill varieties, or South Asian vs. Indian, etc., and interesting people in our hobby without scaring them off is a good thing. For myself I was able to discuss with Alex some of the unique growing conditions found at his second property in the Loxahatchee area as this is where I am growing. He was also more than willing to share with me his horticultural practices and some of his lessons learned, both good and bad.
Finding people like Alex who are willing to take a little time to educate and explain is invaluable to hobbyists like myself, though addict may be a more accurate description, and people like Alex who are approachable will continue to expand this hobby. I would encourage anyone to call and order (as he does ship) or go by and purchase mangos from Tropical Acres. Whether you would consider yourself a relative newbie or more seasoned in your experience with mangos Alex is more than willing to help and answer any questions. If you don’t have questions and don’t feel like talking fruit, though obviously we all do as we are on this forum for a reason, he has a quality product with all the old favorites and lots of the new Zill varieties. Yeah this post seems like a shameless plug, and it is to a degree, however, I feel it important to pass along such a positive experience from a local, small grower and purveyor of a fine product as seeing people like him succeed benefits us all. I certainly will not be abandoning my other haunts, but I have definitely added a new one to the list especially considering he is open until 6 pm during the week for those who have to work (though as I learned through personal experience sometimes a little later if you call ahead). I would encourage all to contact Alex or go by and check it out for yourself as I feel you will not be disappointed in him or his selections. I had zero interactions with Alex before that day, but I feel confident based on my experiences and observations in saying you can contact him through the forum, by phone, or email and he will be more than accommodating, not to mention your belly will thank you.
Topic: Review of Tropical Acres Farms & Squam256 (Read 5966 times)