Robert Barnum of Possum Trot Tropical Fruit Nursery Knows Trees

By Jacob Katel Tue., Feb. 10 2009 at 12:31 PM

Categories: Locavore Express

Robert Barnum of Possum Trot Tropical Fruit Nursery is an expert in rare and exotic tropical fruits. I met him through Meghan "The Forager" Tanner, an organics dealer serving the restaurant industry, I rode down south with her one day as she picked up Dade County's freshest produce for Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink. Robert Barnum has a distant relation to P.T. Barnum, the circus mogul, and he does carry the air of the showman about him.

But Robert Barnum of Possum Trot Tropical Fruit Nursery isn't a ringmaster, he's a farmer, and according to the produce that stands as a testament to his work, a damn good one. However, he's got a few bones to pick with the government and its treatment of the American farmer.

"I've been here my whole life. My father and uncle started the farm in 1946. The farmer needs to be getting more than a nickel on the dollar for their product."

I asked Robert Barnum if he owned his land and he said "No, I'm just borrowing it from our next generation. You don't see any skyscrapers here do you?"

Possum Trot Tropical Fruit Nursery is located at 14955 SW 214 St. The phone number is 305-235-1768. Barnum grows tropical fruit, spices, timber, medicinal and poison trees. He also does private cooking and wines.

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