'Michael (MPJ-4)' Loquat Scion Wood

MICHAEL (MPJ-4) LOQUAT  

Flavor:  Tropical Fruit Punch, Extra Sweet, Spicy & Complex
Fruit Size:  Medium-Large
Fruit Type:  White (Great Shelf Life), Speckled Red Blush, Very Juicy & Crisp Flesh
Growth Habits:  Large & Vigorous, Balanced and Thick, Very Prolific, Huge Fruit Clusters
Season:  Mid to Late
Tolerances:  Resistant to Drought, Shade, Heat, Humidity, Wet, Wind, Pests & Diseases, Very Cold
Growing Zone:  7B or higher (9 is Perfect)
Positioning:  Full Sun, Part Sun

Following the unexpected passing of Michael on June 27, 2020, at the age of 32, Adam officially named the formerly unreleased ‘SW-004’ to ‘Michael (MPJ-4)’ in honor and dedication to him for Michael’s personal favorite loquat. Survived by his wife, Jennifer, and four children, Elijah, Malachi, Jeremiah and Amalee, Michael was very picky with the fruit he chose to eat from the garden and would only go after the sweetest and most complex varieties. Michael helped to plant and cultivate many fruit trees in the AKME Gardens fruit orchards, including the very vigorous Viking Loquat. His favorite fruit of all was a ripened Honeycrisp Apple, and his dream was to have his ashes buried beneath a Honeycrisp Apple Tree and become one with it and the environment. We just did not expect it to happen so soon, and by dedicating this prized loquat variety to him, we help him to live on in our memories and share his love for special fruit with the world.

As a tree, the Michael (MPJ-4) Loquat is one of the finest and most complex tasting white fleshed varieties we have ever tried. It is impossible to eat just one, and it leaves a very refreshing and quenching tropical fruit punch flavor in your mouth. The tree becomes a thick and large size with vigorous growth similar to its Champagne x Wolfe parentages. The reddish speckles across the yellow fruit peels are aesthetically pleasing and makes for a nice ornamental appearance. Extremely prolific, the tree’s clusters are huge and rain down across the tree like giant grapes. By helping keep Michael’s memory alive through this tree, a portion of every purchase made from its scions or propagations will be sent to his wife and children in support for their family after this tragic loss.