Mark Rieger is a Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, and has been involved in graduate and undergraduate teaching for over 14 years. Mark also gives the annual Master Gardener training sessions in fruit culture and tree pruning at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and conducts research on fruit crop physiology and culture. Mark has traveled throughout North America, Europe, New Zealand, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean compiling information and photographing the world’s fruit crops.

Introduction to Fruit Crops (HORT 3020) was developed in 1990 as a requirement for the Horticulture major at UGA. It is designed as a survey of the taxonomy and culture of the world's major fruit crops, using the information provided at this site. Enrollment has more than doubled since then, attracting students from other disciplines including Crop and Soil Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Education, and Business. The course is available to anyone in the world via the miracle of distance education! If you would like to take Mark's course and receive transferrable college credit, please visit the University System of Georgia Independent Study Program Site, or by phone at 706-542-3243.