Frontiers of Fruit in California: New and Rediscovered Fruit Types with Potential for Commercial Cultivation

Abstract

Many California farmers and breeders are actively searching for new or rediscovered fruit types with promising characteristics such as exceptional flavor, unusual color or texture, perceived health properties, or value to ethnic communities. Some of the most potentially valuable species and cultivar groups currently being grown or under trial in California, include greengage and mirabelle plums ( Prunus domestica); tejocotes ( Crataegus mexicana); fresh-quality quinces ( Cydonia oblonga); goji ( Lycium barbarum); and pollination variant, non-astringent persimmons ( Diospyros kaki). These fruit types vary considerably in the reasons why they may be of commercial interest; origin and history of cultivation, particularly in California; germplasm resources and availability; environmental, horticultural and postharvest requirements and challenges; and marketing issues. Many of the fruit types are also potentially of interest for cultivation in states other than California.