Bob Kurle’s Fruit & Nut List
Bob Kurle produced the recommended fruit & nut list several years ago as a result of discussion at a MidFEx picnic to give us a start, and so other growers in the area could add information from their experiences.
Bob Kurle was one of the top fruit and nut enthusiasts in the U.S. He corresponded with fruit and nut growers all over the world. In the 1970s he produced displays at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show in McCormick Place that stimulated many ordinary gardeners to become interested in dwarf and dwarfed fruit, hybrid nuts, and growing the best varieties suited to the Chicagoland area. He has appeared in Organic Gardening and the Chicago Tribune.
As an officer, director, and hardworking member of NAFEX (North American Fruit Explorers) Bob was responsible for organizing the Chicago Chapter of NAFEX which later became MidFEx (Midwest Fruit Explorers), a separate not-for-profit organization.
Bob was dedicated to gathering, testing, and sharing information about fruit and nuts that will do well in our area. Bob was always generous in sharing his encyclopedic knowledge, his growing techniques and his seeds and scion wood. We all owe Bob a big vote of thanks and the best way we can thank him is by adding information to this list of fruits and nuts for the Chicagoland area.