I had been wanting to watch the documentary film “The Fruit Hunters” about exotic fruit, and the folks whose passion it is since it was released a couple years ago. There is a segment on figs, but it covers a lot of different areas, mostly on tropical fruits, but then I guess there are a lot more undiscovered potential then the temperate areas of the globe. I was a little disappointed that the film focused so much on actor Bill Pullman, and now I am going to have to read the book, which I understand did not. I have nothing against Pullman, just seems there could have more interesting topics to cover in this area, and left me wanting. I did enjoy it and think many of you would as well. Ken Love who some of you may have had communications with is profiled.  It just was released on Netflix, so you can find it there. I am sure it’s probably been on cable channels already, but sense I seem to get many more projects done when I deprive myself of cable/satellite and I have a long list of projects my family will have to suffer.

I am not sure if this is the full program or the same content completely, but it appears to be out on youtube in 2 parts. not your typical youtube however it is a long watch

Part 1

If I could do a documentary on my specific micro climate, it would include the fruit of the vine... Wine grapes..., and the Anna Apple, and peaches, apricots, pine nuts, macadiamias, Pakistan Mulberry, all Citrus, pomegranates, olives, figs of all kinds.  We have a mild winter with some snow that never sticks, and a really lovely spring, hot summer, and a nice autumn.  They don't always go dormant, because they get confused.  I know there is more we can grow, but only so much time....

Going to order a ton of manure just for the thing it's supposed to do.

I did not include the annuals in the above like peppers, tomatoes, oh!  I need to grow pumpkins!!  And I forgot the pine trees............

Suzi

Loved the video clips strudledog, thanks for sharing them with us.

Suzi how does Anna Apple taste? I bought one last summer, now it's hibernating. I have a very rare and indigenous to island of Cyprus apple type, they get huge, between 1-2.5 Lbs each, very sweet yet very tart same time, they are Green all around and have a slight pinkish side.

Great stories there! Very easy to see how the obsession begins.

I love the documentary but how come the USDA don't trouble them as they do some of our fellow members here on the forum. whats the difference in this and someone purchasing cuttings on ebay from Turkey. 

I also have the DVD and posted the Canadian TV series vids here last year.  I enjoyed both versions.  I've had some correspondence with Norris since watching the movie as has Bass and maybe others.  Her enthusiasm is wonderful.  Dr. Campbell did also tell me that their graft of the white mango did make it. :)  I've known Ken Love for quite a while and he's even bought chestnuts from me for his mom.

I"m not sure there's a question about the USDA not hassling them, I'm sure they are following all of the legal requirements.  That is a major difference between them and the members who have been hassled by the USDA/APHIS.  These are professionals and they aren't undertaking their work in a haphazard fashion.

and here i thought we were the only crazy ones. that was worth watching.

How scary was the look the guy gave the Hawaiian girl when she let him sniff her mango at the auction towards the end of part 1??? :)


Good video though, thanks.

The only reason I ask is because of the comments at 36:50 on the first video. To say they don't do things in a haphazard fashion well ...... I don't know.... With respect to you harvey and the FTBG. I must say I've never heard of someone from the National Clonal Germplasm Repository immediately grafting scion obtained outside the US in their fields without a quarantine period. I'm not hating, Just saying. 

Not all species require a quarantine.  Mango may very well be one of those since, to the best of my knowledge, not a major crop anywhere in the ConUSA.  Figs imported from Canada also didn't need to be held in quarantine prior to May 2012 (it's not clear to me what the requirements are after a May 2012 Federal Order).  Also, quarantine requirements can vary.  Sometimes plants in quarantine need to be kept something like a minimum of 3 meters from non-quarantined plants.  When I was involved somewhat in a chestnut import project they needed to be kept in greenhouses for five years.  Dr. Campbell is a professional and I think it's very unlikely his actions were out of compliance with regulations.

 Thanks harvey,  I don't doubt he went by the books. I don't know anything about import regulations on mangos. it probably is different rules because like you said it's not a widely grown crop in the continental US.  I wish there where more videos on the net like this. It would be nice to see what it's like to collect cuttings in places like Russia, and North Korea or just see what fruits they have. Just Russia alone is probably a treasure trove of hardy plant material. How sweet of a job that would be to travel the globe in search of new plant genetics.  I'd love to be able to find a Prunus sogdiana from northern kyrgyzstan and use it for breeding stock. Or search the far corners of the earth for fig trees. Man I should have gotten that Phd :( 

Good stuff for saturday we need to make a video library for our figs..

As Harvey indicated There are 2 versions, I guess I missed the post on it prior. The version on Youtube posted above is the Canadian series version, so some of the comments I made are irrelevant to that version. The Theater version is on Netflicks now if you want to watch that version. Glad some found it inspiring as did I. Would love see a extended series of this type there could be a whole season on figs alone, but probably not broad enough appeal to see that happen. Unfortunately most would rather watch another singing competition or staged reality  garbage.

Loved the videos! My local CRFG chapter hosts a screening once a year or so, but I haven't attended yet. I think I spotted Roger Meyer (renowned Jujube grower) in part 1 at 6:33! I just visited him and bought a dozen trees from him last weekend.