California Rare Fruit Growers, CRFG:
Golden Gate Chapter
Growing Unusual Edibles in the San Francisco Bay Area

35^th Annual Golden Gate Scion Exchange 2025

[Google Maps to Parking Lot] [Event Map] [Written Directions]

Gain Fast Pass Early Entry: Don't wait until the Scion Exchange!

1. Join the California Rare Fruit Growers non-profit organization
2. Join our Golden Gate Chapter to be informed of exclusive orchard tours, events, grafting classes, fruit tastings, and educational opportunities, online community of like-minded fruity friends where you can learn, get your questions answered and share your own experiences.

Select from hundreds of varieties to graft onto your trees including almonds, apples, Asian plums, cane berries, cherries, currents & gooseberries, European plums, grapes, kiwis, mulberries, nuts, olives, other fruits, peaches, pears, persimmons, plumcots, pomegranates, quince, vegetable seeds, and seedlings that are seasonally appropriate for propagation.

 

Cuttings to Root:

Find cuttings are available to propagate by rooting in soil including: figs, grapes, pomegranates, kiwis, mulberries, brambles, & more.

 

 

As the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world, our famous annual Scion Exchanges are the most prominent event by which California Rare Fruit Growers serves its mission. Find the best varieties for growing your own fruit.

 

We have a limited amount of scions, availability is subject to what is donated. In the spirit of the Exchange, we invite you to harvest scions from your trees as long as you know what the variety is. Even one or two trees is enough to harvest from. Please bring them to share with your community of fruit growing enthusiasts. 

Rare varieties are of course especially interesting, but there will be beginning growers that would love to try their hand at grafting a 'Santa Rosa' plum or 'Fuji' apple. Don't assume someone else will bring a variety you have, or that something you're growing is too common. Scions are not wasted. All left-over scions are taken to the next Exchange. 

 

Scions to Graft: What is a Scion? In a well-pruned orchard, trees grow vigorously, and last year's growth (scions) can be 3 feet or even longer. On an old tree that has not been pruned in many years, the new growth can be as short as an inch or less. Scions for the exchange are best harvested from vigorous growth.

Scions for grafting are usually harvested in the dormant season. They're cut from clean, one-year-old wood, about 1/4 inch in diameter (no thinner than a pencil). Also known as fruitwood/budwood, scionwood ensures you get the cultivar you want to eat the fruit of.

 

Shop our Favorite Supplies, Learn to Graft, Find Special Plants

Scion Exchange Shopping List: ---> Start Planning Now <---  

Scion Exchange Event Features: 

• Free Pre-Event Newbie/Beginner Class at 11:10 am hosted by Chapter chair: John Valenzuela (meet near Welcome Table)
• Free Grafting Class at 12:30 - 1:45 pm hosted by CRFG member Graham Stott
• Free Live Grafting Demonstrations, stop, watch, learn, ask questions from several expert CRFG grafters
• Hundreds of scions available to choose from.LIMIT 2 STICKS PER CULTIVAR, PER PERSON.
• Rootstocks for sale, See shopping list for details (or bring your own to get them grafted)
• Custom Grafting Service for a fee. Buy rootstock at the our exchange or bring your own bare-root rootstock. Choose your scions at our exchange and we will graft it for you. Make sure the root stock is compatible with the scion you want grafted.
• Grafting Supplies for Sale: metal plant labels, grafting tape, Buddy tape, knives, cut resistant gloves, limb-spreaders, safety tape, grafting rubbers, tool cleaners and more (View complete Exchange Shopping List here)
• Pruner, Lopper and Grafting Knife Sharpening bring these to have them sharpened for a fee while you learn how to do it for yourself
• Get your fruit tree questions answered by experts
• Fruit Tasting: Discover fresh and unusual fruit as we celebrate seasonal bounty
• Citrus fruit for Sale Delicious citrus grown in the Sacramento Valley by CRFG member Ray Sheehy
• Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program, CDFA Learn about critical updates of citrus trees and scionwood
• Planting Justice nursery Discover their huge diversity of fruit trees and their service to communities.
• Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library with 50 in the East Bay & 12+ in Marin.
• Meet author Robert Kourik Shop a selection of his revered titles.
• The Fig Hunter Learn all you could ever want to know about growing figs.
• Circadian Crop Sciences: NEW Shop OMRI approved organic pest & fungus management.
• Annies Gardenscapes Find rare fruit trees, shrubs and berry plants for sale
• Harmony Organics Coconut Coir, Worm Castings, Bokashi, 4 Way Compost
• Plant Sale: Diablo Valley College: Horticulture Department Shop for vegetables, edibles, annuals, perennial herbs, California natives, pollinator plants, salvias, shrubs, ground-covers & vines, trees & shrubs, succulents, tender perennials & indoor plants, soil amendments
• Vintage issues of the CRFG Fruit Gardener magazine available for purchase
• Beginners are welcome! We all have to start somewhere
• You are NOT required to bring scions for trade if you don't have any

 

Download Your Comprehensive Guide to the Scion Exchange: 

   Making the Best of the CRFG Scion Exchange (pdf)

 

WHAT TO BRING

• Scion wish list (based on fruit tastings, research, your chill-hours, pollination, and ability to root or compatibility with rootstocks for grafting)
• Gallon zip-top plastic bags to put your scions in so they stay fresh, (include your name on it in case you lay it down and forget)
• Painters or masking tape to label your scions
• Permanent Marker to write on your tape
• Notebook & pen to take notes
• A handled tote to carry them all in
• Scions and Plants to share from your home. Including divisions, tubers, bare-root plants, and seeds of unusual fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, and herbs.
• Grafting Knives and Pruners to sharpen for a fee.
• Cash, Credit/Debit cards or Smartphones to use for payment for entry and purchases. (See what's for sale here.)

 

What NOT to Bring:

• NO Citrus or relatives (plants or scions/cuttings) Find out why.
• NO potted fig plants, (cuttings are ok to bring)
• NO Disease or Pests on infected plants
• NO Leaf-litter from all potted plants, and no excess soil from roots and tubers that you have dug up.
• NO Old-Wood with fruit spurs (two years or older wood)
  bring only the most recent tip growth that grew last year. See photo
• NO Non-Edible Plants
• NO Current Patented Plant Varieties

 

Scion Exchange Essential Knowledge

• Your Master Guide: Making the Best of the CRFG Scion Exchange (pdf)
• Grafting Fruit Trees with Graham Stott (pdf)
• Grafting Dormant Deciduous Fruit Scions with Idell Weydemeyer (pdf)
• Photos & Diagrams for Grafting Fruit Trees with Graham Stott (pdf)
• How to Graft with Illustrations with Idell Weydemeyer (pdf)
• What is a Scion Exchange?
• How to Harvest Scions for a Scion Exchange
• Labels to Print for the Scion bags you bring to the Exchange
• Watch Videos showing how to harvest and prepare scions for an Exchange
• How to Collect Scionwood with Photos
   (Do not use paper towels for storage to avoid mold.)
• Fruit Tree Graft Compatibility Chart
• Dave Wilson Low Chill Fruit & Nut Varieties
• Collecting and Grafting Evergreen Scionwood (pdf)
• Inter-Stemming Pear and Quince (pdf)
• Mulberry Graft or root Cultivar Chart (pdf)
• Olive Cultivar rooting Ability (pdf)
 

• Visit Other 2025 CRFG Scion Exchanges
 

 Scion Exchange questions? [email protected]

         Golden Gate Chapter questions? [email protected]

       © Copyright 2025 California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.  CRFG Inc questions? Contact us.