April, 1997
Five land-grant universities and a federal agency have signed a unique agreement to form a regional partnership to better serve the tree fruit industry in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Jersey, according to a story in the Fruit Time Newsletter from Penn State University.
"Stimulated by a need to cooperate across state lines, this group is six equal partners working together for the benefit of the industry," says Charles Krueger, associate dean for research in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "This is a coordinated effort that spans research, Extension and student education."
The agreement is one of several initiatives outlined in a 1995 Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan developed by members of the tree fruit industry and representatives from universities and agricultural agencies. The participating organizations are Penn State, University of Maryland, Cook College-Rutgers University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, West Virginia University and the Appalachian Fruit Research Station of the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Bardane, W.V.
"The regional approach will allow the industry access to expertise that might not be available in their state," said Lynn P. Moore, president of Larriland Farm in Woodbine, Maryland. "Across the country, universities and Extension services are experiencing cutbacks resulting in gaps in some areas of specialization."
An 18-member Mid-Atlantic Regional Tree Fruit Science and Education Working Group has been formed to coordinate the research and education programs of the participating universities and develop recommendations on staffing and other issues. Each partner organization has three representatives on the working group. The regional strategic plan and working group concept grew out of a series of meetings with tree fruit growers and processors from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia that started in 1993. Subsequently, the industry formed the Appalachian Tree Fruit Advisory Council in 1994 with industry representatives from each state. New Jersey was added in 1996.
"These planning efforts will help identify industry needs and recommend how to address these needs," Krueger said. "For example, by coordinating hiring efforts, not every university has to have a tree fruit post-harvest physiologist. The input from tree fruit producers and processors will help us prioritize the research and education needs within the Mid-Atlantic Region."
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