One of South Florida’s best known fruit aficionados, William Lessard, has died at 87. He served as a mentor to young and old about the world of tropical fruits, from bananas to annonas, sharing colorful tales along the way.
“His knowledge of tropical fruits was phenomenal, and always with wonderful adventurous stories to go along with it,” says Katie Chafin of Going Bananas, who with her husband, Don, acquired Lessard’s extensive banana collection in 1994. Whether speaking to one person or a room full, Lessard captivated his audience as he held forth on his vast travels procuring new species and trying different varieties of fruits and vegetables.
Born in Springfield, Mass., Lessard grew up in Jaffrey, New Hampshire and attended the University of New Hampshire, then began his career in the U.S. Air Force, where he served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. A decorated fighter pilot, Lessard retired from active duty to farm in the Redland in 1968, growing avocados, mangos and other fruit trees. He was a member of the Rare Fruit Council International in Miami and founding president of the Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Society of Redland. He wrote The Complete Book of Bananas, still considered a valuable resource on growing bananas.
Along with other local fruit enthusiasts like Jack Gordon, the late Carl Campbell, Chris Rollins and Marc Ellenby, Lessard was a tireless promoter of the South Dade tropical fruit industry, sharing knowledge and encouragement, says Chafin. “He was a great mentor for us and so many others in the Redland.” Those include Rane Roatta and Edelle Schlegel, who started Miami Fruit five years ago.
“He was always full of stories,” says Roatta, who bought a part of Lessard’s farm to grow fruits they sell for their online business. “What I loved about him was how adventurous he was.”
Roatta says he was always growing different fruits to see what was possible, like abiu, thornless peach palm and breadfruit trees that fruited in South Florida. Lessard’s travels took him to Central and South America where he looked for new fruits to bring back to Florida, including the sugar apple, ‘Lessard Thai’. He promoted the fat Hua moa plantain, also called the Hawaiiyano, to the Cuban community, a banana that was nominated for the Slow Food Ark of Taste, a collection of foods belonging to the cultures, history and traditions of the planet.
Even as his health declined, Roatta says Lessard remained an inspiring figure.
Lessard is survived by his wife and two daughters. While his memorial service is delayed because of COVID-19, Lessard’s family asks to plant a fruit tree in his honor.
