Article 24842 of rec.gardens:
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Subject: Re: Fruit and/or tree wanted.
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From: bmoon@eis.calstate.edu (Bruce A. Moon)
Date: 28 Dec 1993 09:22:12 -0800
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	my daughter's dictionary just gives 'medlar' for the definition. 
Never had medlar; the Northwoods Retail nursery sells Medlar trees for 
$18.50. This is in Oregon, so you might not be interested since it is not 
necessarily a match. Here's there catalog description of the fruit:
"The fruits are small, russseted apples in appearance, with long, flard 
calyx ends protruding from the end opposite the stem, l;ike a jester's 
hat. When ripe the flesh is soft like a baked apple, with a refreshing, 
brish flavor like old-fashioned cinnamon laced applesauce. "
	Morthwoods Retail Nursery, 27635 S. Oglesby Rd.
CAnby, OR 97013, (503)266-5432
	If you were in California, I'd tell you to check your local California 
Rare Fruit Growers group. I've blonged for only four months but have 
tasted more fruit that I knew in my previous 45 years. You might try the 
state organization; I don't know what services they offer, but someone 
said ytou could get a sample copy of their magazine for $1. They might 
have classifieds. The North Amerian Fruit Explorers might be another 
source. Their addresses according to the ORTHO Citrus and and 
Subtropicals book:

California Rare Fruit Growers Inc.
Fullerton Arboretum
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA 92634
Membership $10

North American Fruit Explorers
Mary Kurle, Membership chairperson
10 South 055 Madison Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Membership $6
-- Bruce Moon 
Rio Linda, CA


Article 24850 of rec.gardens:
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From: ramirez@julia.math.ucla.edu (Alice Ramirez)
Subject: Medlars
Message-ID: <1993Dec29.063309.21415@math.ucla.edu>
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Date: Wed, 29 Dec 93 06:33:09 GMT
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>
>	my daughter's dictionary just gives 'medlar' for the definition. 
>Never had medlar; the Northwoods Retail nursery sells Medlar trees for 
>$18.50. This is in Oregon, so you might not be interested since it is not 
>necessarily a match. Here's there catalog description of the fruit:
>"The fruits are small, russseted apples in appearance, with long, flard 
>calyx ends protruding from the end opposite the stem, l;ike a jester's 
>hat. When ripe the flesh is soft like a baked apple, with a refreshing, 
>brish flavor like old-fashioned cinnamon laced applesauce. "

Medlars are relatives of pear and quince and a native of S.E. Europe and
Asia.  According to The Fruit and Nut Book by Helen Radecka, it likes a
cool temperate climate and now grows throught most of the Northern 
Hemixphere.  
I have lifted the following from the same book:

"It was once a valuable winter fruit, but today ...it is not nearly so
popular.  However, medlars have great ornamental value.  Slow-growing
smallish trees which will reach 20-25 feet, they can be kept to half that
wityhout much trouble and are rather like quinces with a distinctive
gnarled crooked habit, sometimes pendulous, and very pretty in flower."

In terms of harvest "Traditionally medl;ars are picked after the first 
frosts, but even then they are still hard and bitter..." (your nursery
catalogue waffles a bit here)  It requires a period of maturing, known as 
"bletting" to become palatable. "For this they are stored, stalks up,
in a cool, well-ventilated place without touching each other for about
3 weeks or until they turn soft and brown, rather like over-rupe pears.
The stalks may be dipped in brine to help prevent rotting.  Although
they may look unattractive and semi-rotten, they have finally acquired
their characteristic slightly sweet yet acid taste and soft, buttery
consistency.

	"In warm climates, the fruit will ripen on the tree and doesd
not have to be bletted.  Ripe medlars are traditionally eaten with
port wine Slightly unripe fruit is used to make a delicious orange jelly
with a quince-like taste.  The Mediterranean medlar, or Azorole, although
related, actually belongs to the Hawthorn genus Crataegus."
This is the sort of fruit that the folks over in rec.food.historical will
have heard of.

a 4 oz serving of medlar has apx 40 calories.  Its main nutrient is
potassium.

How are your medlars bletting?
Why, when I think of port and bletted medlars, the image of a dissolute
young nobleman leaps to mind?

I apologize for quoting from a book, but here in Guava Territory,
medlars are no more successful than quince in the garden.

>	If you were in California, I'd tell you to check your local California 
>Rare Fruit Growers group. I've blonged for only four months but have 
>tasted more fruit that I knew in my previous 45 years. You might try the 
>state organization; I don't know what services they offer, but someone 

Hey, don't let the name fool you. My beloved weird fruit group has a
national and international membership.  Where out-of-staters may get
shortchanged is in local chapters.  There are many in Cal, but if enough
enthusiasts wanted to form a chapter elsewhere,  the leaders of CRFG
certainly wouldn't complain.  Your fruit might not be subtropical, but
hey, rare fruit simply means.... rare fruit!  Cloudberries?  Heirlooms?
Gooseberries??  Saskatoons???

>said ytou could get a sample copy of their magazine for $1. They might 
Haven't heard of this.  You could check.
But don't count on  it.

>have classifieds. The North Amerian Fruit Explorers might be another 

Yes, they do.  Also experts members can write to for advice for 
growing various things.

>source. Their addresses according to the ORTHO Citrus and and 

NAFEX is a good group too, so I've heard.  Don't know much about it, but
SOMEONE must.

B>ASubtropicals book:
B
>California Rare Fruit Growers Inc.
>Fullerton Arboretum
>California State University, Fullerton
>Fullerton, CA 92634
>Membership $10
$10??  Uh-Uh!  $16 in the U.S.  For this you get a very nice bi-monthly
magazine, access to experts, local chapters in-state, selected books and
publications that may be difficult to find elsewhere (regarding fruit, 
of course) some amazing recipes in each issue, involving fruit of course,
and the right to purchase from a seed bank.  (selections in the Dec.
1993 issue include, in addition to such standbys as Asimina triloba
assorted citrus and Diospyros spp, really rare seeds such as Clausenia
Iansium (wampi); Hovenia dulcis (Japanese raisin tree); Solanum quitoense
(Naranjilla); Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle fruit); Lucuma salcifolia
(yello sapote) and Thong Dee Notto, a pummelo-Chinotto hybrid that
is brachytic and produces a small pummello-type fruit.

>North American Fruit ExplorersMary Kurle, Membership chairperson
>10 South 055 Madison Street
>Hinsdale, IL 60521
>Membership $6






