The beautiful color and exotic shape of dragon fruit is being produced successfully in Southern California backyards and on small farms thanks to the work of UC Small Farm Program advisor Ramiro Lobo, based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in San Diego County.

Lobo will once again host backyard gardeners and farmers at the 2009 Dragon Fruit Festival and Field Day Saturday, Aug. 29, at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center near Irvine. The event was publicized by the Village Voice blog, Roger's Pick.

Dragon fruit is native to Mexico, Central, South America and parts of the Caribbean. It's flesh can be white, pink or magenta depending upon variety, according to Roger's Pick writer Roger Boddaert. The magenta flesh, he writes, contains lycopene, a natural antioxidant believed to fight cancer, heart disease and lower blood pressure.

Next Saturday's festival will include:

• Tour of pitahaya research field plots
• Presentations by Lobo and other experts
• Lunch
• Pitahaya fruit tasting, brix measurements and cutting distribution

For more information about the festival, click here.