Pitahaya Dragon Fruit Festival 2014
by Edgar Valdivia
http://www.edvaldivia.com/Hi Everyone, What a success! The University of California Cooperative Extension, under the direction of Ramiro Lobo once again put on a wonderful program.
Friday's thirteen lectures were packed full of practical information covering everything from pest control, to marketing, to the expansion of the pitahaya/dragon fruit plantation, to different locations around California.
At last, the DNA of all the pitahaya/dragon fruit that is growing at the South Coast Field Station has been done. We now realize, something that we had already suspected: Many of the same plants are being grown with different names. You will be glad to know that a website will be established by the University showing all the data and activities related the the pitahaya.
The lunch was wonderful and gave everyone an opportunity to visit and exchange ideas. As always there was a fruit tasting and delicious pitahaya/dragon fruit ice cream..
Saturday, we started with a wonderful breakfast and then off to the fields to see the progress and learn more about the plantation. Each year our numbers seem to grow and because of the high attendance we split into three groups - rotating from the field to a powerpoint presentation (regarding the most up to date events with this fruit) that I gave along with Linda Nickerson.
After a delicious lunch, fruit tasting, and more delicious ice cream, we lined up for cuttings of the various varieties that are being grown at the Field Station.
I was so pleased with the wonderful job that is being done by the University. Each year just gets better and better. Ramiro and all his team of hard workers deserve a big round of applause and thank you.
I am attaching a link that will show beautiful pictures posted by the University of the different varieties that are being grown there.
By the way, the people attending were from all over, no only the U.S. but foreign countries as well.
Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit) link:http://ucanr.edu/sites/alternativefruits/Alternative_Fruits/Pitahaya/