Northwest Farm Credit Services’ $250,000 donation supports postharvest advances for tree fruit industry

Northwest Farm Credit Services supports WSU Tree Fruit advances with a recent $250,000 contribution. The donation was presented in 2018 to CAHNRS and WSU.

Helping Pacific Northwest growers deliver plentiful, sustainable fruit crops to consumers at every harvest, Northwest Farm Credit Services recently announced a $250,000 donation supporting postharvest tree fruit research at Washington State University.

Mandy Minick, Washington State President of Northwest FCS, presented the contribution to André-Denis Wright, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, at the Northwest Horticulture Expo, Dec. 3, 2018, in Yakima.

Once fruit crops are harvested, growers and packers face challenges bringing enough safe, high-quality fruit to consumers due to fruit-rotting pathogens, environmental stresses, and inefficiencies in the storage and supply chain.

Northwest FCS’ donation allows WSU and USDA scientists to improve fruit quality and storage practices, protect against disease, and introduce new technology, by enhancing and updating WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension’s postharvest research facilities and equipment. Building on investment by Washington growers, the donation also supports WSU’s new Endowed Chair for Postharvest Systems, alumna Carolina Torres.

“Northwest Farm Credit Services understands the challenges that Washington growers face,” said Wright. “Working together with growers and Northwest FCS, CAHNRS provides our state’s $6 billion tree fruit industry with a science-based competitive advantage.”

Northwest FCS provides financing, related services and crop insurance to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commercial fishermen, timber producers, and rural homeowners in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. For more information, go to www.farm-credit.com.

WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension develops and applies research-based information for sustainable tree fruit production in Washington and the world. Learn more here.