Miami Fruit Tips

Hey ya'll,

If you aren't aware, I used to live in Miami, where I went to school, and from which I founded and ran Taylor's Tropicals (www.TaylorsTropicals.com, www.youtube.com/TaylorsTropicals). Last August, I passed on Taylor's Tropicals my good friend Jourdan Gray, transferred schools, packed my car and headed west. I now live in California, but still visit Florida from time to time to visit friends and family.

I often get asked about produce connections in Florida. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all things to do, but here's a brief list of notes on where to score food. I recently sent this to a friend who was asking for some help with his Miami trip, and I figured I'd share it with the rest of ya. Hope it's useful to you :)

Firstly, I'd definitely contact Jourdan @ www.JourdansBeautifulFood.com, he's got the best tropical fruit in FL (and hence in the US except for Hawaii). From the quality of the soil and ecosystems on his farms, to the care with which fruit is selected, you really don't want to miss getting something from him. Right now his sapodilla are off the charts, I hear.

I'd also hit up El Palacio de los Jugos for some delicious local passion fruit juice and coconuts. Aside from that, Robert Is Here is a pretty awesome stop down in Homestead, and if you hit up Krome Ave in Homestead between SW 88 St and SW 272 St, you'll score some good fruit finds. It's also worth calling up the Fruit and Spice Park to see if they have much fruiting... I used to go during mulberry season and eat off the ground.

Also, there is a wholesale produce market in downtown Miami, nearby the Jackson Memorial hospital. It's all conventional, but you can get some good stuff. Right now, you can find pretty good imported mangos, for instance.

Lastly, the Saturday Glaser market and Josh's market on Sunday in Hollywood are both worth a visit as well.

Double lastly, scour the neighborhoods. Depending on the season, you'll find anything from mango and lychee to mamey, sapodilla, jakfruit, coconut, starfruit, citrus, and more. Keep an eye out!

There are a few more tricks of the trade, but this should have you pretty well covered. Hope this is helpful.

Cheers :)

T