About Us
Join Us!
The CRFG application contains membership information.
We encourage everyone with an interest in fruit trees to join our local chapter, as well as joining the State CRFG organization.
The CRFG Central Coast Chapter
We learn from a wide variety of speakers and programs. We visit members' homes, gardens, and orchards. We tour commercial operations. We enjoy eating lots of fresh fruits and nuts!!
Our definition of "Rare Fruit" is rather open. Some of our members have only one or two fruit trees and are trying to get more fruit from these trees! Others own orchards and may run businesses based on those orchards. We have popular plant exchanges at several of our meetings and this is a great way to get started or add to your collection of fruit trees.
Guests and visitors are always welcome at our meetings. Our typical attendance at monthly meetings is between 50 and 60 people. We meet on the second Saturday of every month, including the summer months. The meetings usually start at 1:30 p.m. and rotate to a different location nearly every month. Please check out our meeting manners prior to attending.
History of the Central Coast Chapter
Our chapter was formed in the mid-1980s. In 2022, Tom Sheldon interviewed co-founder and long time member Jack Swords and wrote this captivating history for posterity. Check out the history of the CRFG Central Coast Chapter.
Chapter Officers & Board Members
We elect or Chapter Officers & Board Members at our December meeting and often elect "Co-Chairs" to share the leadership responsibilities for our chapter. We have our own Board of Directors where long range planning and much of the business of our Chapter is conducted.
2023 Chapter Officers
Chairman: Linda Robertson E-mail: central_coast@crfg.org
Vice-Chair: Manny Magaña
Secretary: Elaine Rathbun
Treasurer: Dick Pottratz
2023 Committee Members
Program Committee: Sharon Lovelady, Chair; Elaine Rathbun, Larry Hollis
Newsletter Editor: Jenny Weaver
Newsletter Technical Consultant: Tom Sheldon
Webmaster: Dara Manker
Demonstration Orchard Co-Managers: Dara Manker, Manny Magaña, Jesse Englert
Hospitality Committee: Evelyn Ruehr, Chair; Eliane Rathbun, Karen Kolba
Welcoming & Membership Team: Keri McMillan, Keri Schmidt, Elaine Rathbun
Apple Grafting Team Coordinator: Marv Daniels
Master Gardeners Liaison: Linda Robertson
Publicity - Media Manager: Sheri Thompson
Procurement Manager: Gabrielle Robbins
Raffle Team: Nell Wade, Chair; Kathy Longacre
Scion Exchange: Tucker Schmidt, Chair
Scion Exchange Store Manager: Roxy James
Rootstock Procurement & Sales: Nell Wade, Chair
Scholarship Program: Nell Wade, Chair; Karen Kolba, Linda Robertson, Tucker Schmidt, Lauren Garner (ex-officio)
Nominating Committee: Larry Hollis, Chair; Nell Wade, Tucker Schmidt
Board of Directors: Officers & Committee Chairs, plus Gabrielle Robbins
