Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of California
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Garden writer blogs about UC dragon fruit festival

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.

Lobo speaks at last year's Dragon Fruit Festival.
Lobo speaks at last year's Dragon Fruit Festival.

Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Tags: dragon fruit (3), pitahaya (6)

Comments:

1.
The almost-flourescent purple flesh of the pitahaya I ate recently was such a treat. Nice post!

Posted by Brenda Dawson on August 21, 2009 at 1:59 PM

2.
Hi, I tried to buy some dragon fruit in Irvine area but couldn't find them. Any idea who are selling them in this area? Thank you!

Posted by HK on August 29, 2013 at 12:15 PM

3.
Hi, I tried to buy some dragon fruit in Irvine area but couldn't find them. Any idea who are selling them in this area? Thank you!

Posted by HK on August 29, 2013 at 12:16 PM

4.
I just saw that Home Depot at Irvine Blvd and Sand Canyon had some in 5 gal pots. They were located just outside the entrance of the garden section.

Posted by Cheryl Wilen on September 14, 2013 at 7:19 AM

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