It’s breathing in your ear, flashing in the back of your mind and cowering over your shoulder. Spring registration kicked off this week, and ISIS has become the new Facebook in your hunt for a flawless batch of courses. Among the massive mess of course listings nuzzles a one-credit course that’s extra sweet: Growing Fruit for Fun and Profit (FRC1010).
This lecture-based course is offered by UF’s Horticultural Sciences Department, but it’s designed for non-horticulture majors looking to sink their teeth into the world of fruit production. Rooted with no exams, no homework and fruit sampling, the course provides a light twist on spring schedules.
Alyssa Cho, a current UF Ph.D. student in agronomy, holds a master’s degree from the Horticultural Sciences Department and taught the course last spring.
“It’s a pretty fun, laid-back class,” she said. “Students should take it if they have any interest about where their food comes from.”
The course is only offered during the spring semester and features lectures from experts, including UF faculty, on the fruit chosen for the day’s focus. The spotlighted fruit is partnered with tasty samples for the students. Lectures include strawberries, oranges, apples, blueberries and peaches.
“We have focused on what you can grow in Florida,” Cho said.
While students learn the properties of fruits, the semester’s schedule also includes informative lectures centered on organic farming and tips students can implement into their daily lives.
Caitlyn Oser, a communicative disorders senior who took the course in 2009, said she still appreciates the relevancy of the course — especially when she’s digging through the produce section at the supermarket.
“They taught us about the ripeness of fruits,” she said. “Now I’m able to look closer at that when I’m shopping for them at the grocery store.”
While the students enjoy their juicy snacks, they also must take notes during lectures, as grades are based 50 percent on a notebook that is collected at the end of the semester.
Academics support coordinator for the Horticultural Sciences Department, Curtis Smyder, said he has never heard any negative feedback from students who have taken the class.
“A lot of folks take it just to have something different,” he said.
“Everyone seems to enjoy it, even folks that have no intention of going into the agriculture field. It’s a really fun class.”
