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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 80 No. 3 (2026)Photo: David Karp
Makrut lime (Citrus hystrix) is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia, commonly referred to as Thai lime or, historically, kaffir lime. Many scholars and food writers now avoid the term kaffir because it carries derogatory connotations in certain regions. Wongpornchai (2012) suggests the fruit may have originally been given that name because it was considered smaller or less desirable than other lime varieties. In practice, though, its culinary value and its importance in producing fragrant essential oils far exceed that reputation.
Makrut lime is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine, valued for the intense citrus aroma that comes from both its fruit and its leaves. Citrus hystrix grows as a small, thorny evergreen tree or shrub, recognizable by its distinctive double leaves. The fruits are compact, round, and covered in a rough, bumpy rind. Because the juice vesicles yield very little liquid—and what they do produce is extremely acidic—the rind, rather than the juice, is the part typically used in cooking. In the United States, the tree is most commonly grown in tropical or consistently warm regions.
Wongpornchai S. 2012. 16 - Kaffir lime leaf. In KV Peter (Ed.), Handbook of Herbs and Spices (Second Edition) (pp. 319–328). Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857095688.319.
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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 80 No. 2 (2026)Golding Pecan (‘Ga. 03-6-72’). Photo Credit: Patrick J. Conner
About the Photo: Pecans (Carya illinoinensis), in the Juglandaceae family, can grow to be over 100 ft. tall and can spread up to 75 ft. Oblong fruits (nuts) are produced within a thin paper-like husk. Georgia continues to be the top pecan producing state in the United States with over 88 million pounds harvested annually on average. The University of Georgia pecan breeding program, established in 1998, focuses its program on nut quality characteristics, early maturation, and resistance or tolerance to major insect and disease pests, particularly pecan scab. The cover photo for this volume features the latest commercial variety released from the UGA Pecan Breeding program, GoldingTM (‘Ga. 03-6-72’).
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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 80 No. 1 (2026)January 2026, Volume 80, Issue 1
Pyrus pyrifolia 'Shinseiki'.
Photo Credit: David Karp
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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 79 No. 4 (2025)October 2025, Volume 29, Issue 4
About the photo:
'Chisel Jersey' cider apple. Photo Credit: Dr. Carol Miles, Washington State UniversityWhile cider apple production in the United States dates back to when settlers brought fruit trees with them , apple production for hard cider has rapidly grown in the last 10-15 years. Consumers interest in hard ciders have driven growth in the volume and number of companies. Current production requires about 18 million bushels annually, with many producers depending upon imported concentrate. A blend of cider apples with sweet, bitter, and tannic characteristics are required to produce a premium cider and there are many opportunities for farms in the U.S. to diversify their operations to include cider apples.
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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 79 No. 3 (2025)July 2025, Volume 79, Issue 3
About the photo:
Peento peaches (Prunus persica L. var. platycarpa), also called “donut” peaches, originate from China. William Prince brought peento peaches into North America in 1828, when he established the first commercial nursery in Flushing, New York. Peento peaches can be clingstone or semi-clingstone and can have yellow or white flesh. Various public and private breeding companies have released varieties with improved production and disease resistance. For more information: https://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2020/8/peentoPeach-MW/.'Galaxy' Peach. Photo credit: David Karp. All rights reserved.
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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 79 No. 2 (2025)April 2025, Volume 79, Issue 2
Photo Credit: Alan Cressler, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Collection
About the photo:
Flowers of Diospyros virginiana (Eastern persimmon). American persimmons are a woody, deciduous tree in the Ebenaceae family, native to the central and eastern United States. Persimmons are dioecious, meaning that a tree is designated as male or female, and fruit production requires one of each. While trees grown from seed can take as long as 10 years to produce fruit, grafted trees often produce fruit in 3 years. American persimmon trees are hardy and adaptable, thriving in a variety of soils and providing both food and habitat for wildlife such as deer, raccoons, and birds. Historically, Indigenous peoples and early settlers valued the fruit for its nutritional content and used it in breads, puddings, and preserves. Today, the American persimmon is used both as an edible fruit or ornamental tree, providing beautiful orange fruit after leaves have fallen. -
Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 79 No. 1 (2025)January 2025, Volume 79, Issue 1
Photo: David Karp, All rights reserved.
About the photo: Pineberries, a 200-year-old cultivar (possibly 'White Pine') grown by Hans De Jongh in the Netherlands, imported and distributed by Frieda's Inc., a specialty produce company based in Los Alamitos 5/2/12. ‘White Pine’ is a synonym for the cultivar properly called ‘White Carolina’ (J.M. Merrick, The Strawberry and Its Culture, 1870, p. 127). For more information on white strawberries, read more from George Darrow here: https://www.pubhort.org/aps/21/v21_n2_a3.htm.
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Journal of the American Pomological Society
Vol. 78 No. 2 (2024)October 2024, Volume 78, Issue 2
Photos: Eric Stafne, Ph.D. All rights reserved
About the photo:
While the Passiflora family has over 600 known species, only a few are considered to be of commercial quality for fruit production. The primary species is Passiflora edulis, the passionfruit. This species has two varieties, P. edulis var. edulis and P. edulis var. flavicarpa. The former is generally purple in color whereas the latter is yellow. The purple fruit is usually smaller, but sweeter. The yellow fruit is larger but more acidic and is commonly used in juice production rather than fresh consumption. Intraspecific hybrids of these are also popular. Most Passiflora species originate in the tropical regions of Central and South America; however, a few, such as Passiflora incarnata, grow in temperate or subtropical areas. In countries where passionfruit is native or grown widely, consumption is common, with uses including fresh market, juices, dried, and teas. Passionfruit production in the US is small and consumers are generally unfamiliar with the fruit, but interest is growing. Presently, attempts are being made to expand production outside of traditional regions like California, Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Identification of cold tolerant selections and incorporation of new interspecific hybrids may lead to new areas of passionfruit within the US and other non-traditional growing regions.
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