Frank W. Savage

Highlights

In 1892, he began working with two USDA scientists, Hubert John Webber and Hall of Fame member Walter T. Swingle, to establish the first citrus research facility in the world. When the 1894-95 freeze destroyed the citrus industry, the scientists were called back to Washington and Savage voluntarily continued their work through regular correspondence with the scientists.

• Walter T. Swingle
• Hubert John Webber
• Orlando Tangelo
• Minneola Tangelo
• Swingle Rootstock
• A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm

Bio

Savage is known as Florida’s first grower cooperator. In 1892, he began working with two USDA scientists, Hubert John Webber and Hall of Fame member Walter T. Swingle, to establish the first citrus research facility in the world. Savage constructed laboratories in two rooms at his home and participated in all of the field work and citrus research with the scientists, developing citrus varieties that are still in use today, such as the Orlando and Minneola tangelo, and the Swingle rootstock.

When the 1894-95 freeze destroyed the citrus industry, the scientists were called back to Washington and Savage voluntarily continued their work through regular correspondence with the scientists. Because of his commitment to continuing the research programs established by Swingle and Webber, those two laboratory rooms eventually became a plant evaluation facility, the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm, where extensive breeding work is still done today to develop new and improved varieties and rootstocks of citrus.