The USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory plays an important role in two research centers established in the Pacific Northwest:  the Northwest Nursery Crops Research Center and the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research. These organizations are unique coalitions consisting of commodity organizations, scientists in ARS, and the Agriculture Experiment Stations of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The goal of the centers is to build strong research programs dedicated towards those crops in the Pacific Northwest.