IN-PERSON MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Visitor’s Center Auditorium

4730 Crystal Springs Dr

Los Angeles, CA 90027

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Monday, Sep 8, 2025

9:15 A.M. - 12:45 P.M.

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California Avocados: A Delicious History

Rob Crisell

After a career in publishing, law, and commercial real estate, Rob is now a writer, actor, teacher, and winemaker located in Temecula wine country.

In addition to writing dozens of articles for Sunset, Highlights for Children, Outside, and other magazines and newspapers, Rob has written five books for adults and children, including The Zoo of Impossible Animals (2016), Shakespeare’s Book of Wisdom (2018), Temecula Valley Wineries  (2023), Sophocles’ Electra: A New Version (2023), and California Avocados: A Delicious History (2024).

Since 2012, he has acted with Shakespeare in the Vines, performing in The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Tempest, Macbeth, Othello, and many others.

His 2016 TED Talk about his experiences teaching the Bard to young people is called How NOT to Hate Shakespeare.

Rob has made seven vintages, including Sangiovese, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and red blends. He has served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest County, Rancho Springs Hospital, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, and Shakespeare in the Vines. He is the current president of the board of Hospice of the Valleys.

Rob Crisell grew up in Fallbrook, California, in the heart of a three-acre avocado grove. He is a graduate of Yale University and George Mason School of Law. Rob and his wife Monisha - a local physician - are long-time residents of Temecula. They have two children: Soren (24, musician) and Miranda (20, college student).

Together with Rob and his PowerPoint presentation, we are going to explore how Golden State growers created a global phenomenon, and how California’s favorite fruit became one of the most famous and iconic foods of the twenty-first century.

robcrisell.com