Fruit explorers are an original breed, immemorably old yet ultra modern. Their cause has partisans all over the world and a fascinating throng of predecessors. Without them most of our fruits would still be crabby and harsh, small, unsavory, even inedible.

Our Stone Age ancestors started fruit exploring by critically munching wild fruits. Later, numerous generations of Eurasians took up the quest while developing cultural practices. Modern biological scientists are adding interesting dimensions and prospects.

Fruit exploring has mobilized a unique fellowship: during previous centuries only a quarter out of ca. 450 people who wrote about fruit were horticultural professionals. Clergymen (17%), tradesmen, physicians, lawyers, farmers, businessmen, nobility and others made up the remainder. Thinking of NAFEX I believe the fellowship has changed in two directions: women in all walks of life are discovering the joys and challenges of fruit exploring while the clergy has relocated to populated urban, often sterile, areas.

Some of us have always been single-track sentimentalists, admiring Johnny Appleseed, or romantically idealizing fruit. Many years ago, John Rea wrote to his Lady:

And when autumnal fruits are come,

The peach, the apricot, and plum,

Will all rejoice in hope they may,

By YOU preserved know no decay.

Other fruit explorers routinely spend time golfing, ballroom dancing, Internet cruising, sky-diving and all sorts of diversions. Some, in order to support their exploring habit, market their fancy and rare fruit gems. We share an inquisitive and creative approach with inventors, artists, writers - yet the genetically active immensity of our material sets us apart. We share biological roots with growers, breeders, and researchers of roses, beans, chickens, Drosophila and so many other organisms.

BUT, fruit is the only ready-to-eat health and fun food with genial delights for all of our five senses: the taste of an 'Alfred' apricot, the intense flavour of a ripe raspberry, the velvety smile of a 'Champion' peach, the perfume of a 'Bereczki' quince, the crunch of a 'Spartan' apple, the mouthfeel of a 'Doyenne' pear- to name just a few examples. (Looks alone may be deceiving. Many a novice was fooled by the 'Ben Davis' apple, the 'Catillac' pear, or the 'Melocton' peach, see below.)

In the fruit fancier's world, pleasant sensual experiences are enhanced by gratifying work. Monsieur Thierrat (1752) gave this parenting advice: "Planting a tree is just not sufficient. You must know how to bring it up, guide it, train it, feed it, facilitate its growth, prevent and remedy its weaknesses and afflictions....". After mastering such basic tasks fruit explorers are in their favourite phase: collecting and tasting cultivars and varieties, experimenting with propagation methods, training, cross-breeding and then sharing fruits, research and discoveries. The fruit garden is the laboratory, where mind and body continually exchange information.