Mysterious Life and Death of Frank Meyer, the Lemon Man

April 26, 2018 7:26 PM

Tiger-fighter. Monkey smuggler. If you've ever had a Meyer lemon, the sweet lemon variety beloved by celebrity chefs for its delicate and not-too-tart flavor, you can thank plant adventurer Frank N. Meyer. But supermarket shelves never have enough room for the mysterious story of how Meyer's lemons arrived in America, and the enigmatic and troubled man who cheated death on the other side of the world to find them.
posted by MovableBookLady (10 comments total)

I think it would be somewhat unwieldy if supermarket shelves had to list the backstory of every variety of food.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:30 PM on April 26, 2018 [4 favorites]

Meyer, “Times certainly are sad and mad and from a scientific point of view so utterly unnecessary.” Fascinating story, I think I need that book now.
posted by perrouno at 8:22 PM on April 26, 2018 [2 favorites]

Lemon x Tangerine = Meyer
posted by Fupped Duck at 9:05 PM on April 26, 2018

I just read a book on David Fairchild, Meyer's boss. Meyer survived a beating only by virtue of wearing a really thick leather jacket that more or less doubled as armor. His depression was also sparked by the outbreak of WWI. He was Fairchild's golden boy, returning more fruits and vegetables than any other botanical explorer.

Fascinating guy, it's a real shame that depression was not really acknowledged as a disease in his day.
posted by Hactar at 9:28 PM on April 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

What’s the book?
posted by Grandysaur at 10:23 PM on April 26, 2018

Grandysaur: I'm pretty sure that's The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 10:45 PM on April 26, 2018 [2 favorites]

I think it would be somewhat unwieldy if supermarket shelves had to list the backstory of every variety of food.

Sure, but i can guarantee you'd find me shopping in a store again instead of online. And don't stores want people to stay longer? I frankly love this idea. Id shop at the wiki-groceria. Want corn flakes? Sure but not until you read about mr. Kellog.... Grape jelly? Sure time to hear the tail of Mr. Smucker. Did you know McCain's potatoes products are from a family in Atlantic canada??
posted by chasles at 4:20 AM on April 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

Grandysaur, Harvey Kilobit, that's the one. Sorry, I should have included that.

Really interesting book, if you like either science/discovery history or biographies. Highly recommended.
posted by Hactar at 7:36 AM on April 27, 2018

Interesting things I never knew.
I grew up with a Meyer lemon tree in the back yard. Lemons from that tree are my platonic ideal of lemons. I don't recognize those other things they call lemons. I'm living in my childhood home again. I will have to be dragged out of that house on my last day on earth, arms full of lemons, I love those Meyer lemons so.
posted by k8oglyph at 7:59 AM on April 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

This is a neat article. I too count certain plants amoung my very good friends. Particularly my two Myers lemon trees, Ted 1 and Ted 2. Its really interesting to learn a little bit about their history.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 7:26 PM on April 27, 2018