PROSSER, Wash. — The press is invited to attend a Cherry Industry Information Session & Orchard Tour. The tour is slated for November 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Participants will assemble in the Hamilton Hall Large Conference room at the Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center located at 24016 N. Bunn Road in Prosser, Wash.
WHO: Participants in the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative grant funding the development of a sustainable, stem-free cherry production, processing and marketing system, will conduct the information session and tour.
WHY: Get info on cutting-edge research shaping sweet cherry production systems of the future, a crop that has a significant impact on the economy of Washington state.
CONTACT and MORE INFO: Tracie Arnold, project coordinator; tracie.arnold@wsu.edu; WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, Wash.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Officials at WSU-IAREC are organizing a multi-state Specialty Crop Research Initiative project meeting on November 17-18 in Prosser, Wash. “A total systems approach to developing a sustainable, stem-free sweet cherry production, processing and marketing system” is led by project directors Matthew Whiting and Qin Zhang.
Participants will include research team and advisory committee members from throughout the U.S. working on this $3.9 million dollar, 4-year SCRI project. The team’s long-term goal is to develop a highly efficient, sustainable, sweet cherry production, processing and marketing system. Team members include research scientists from Washington State University, Oregon State University, Michigan State University, University of California, and Picker Technologies, LLC. Private industry and grower advisors from throughout the U.S will also be attending. The media and general public are encouraged to attend the industry information session and orchard tour on November 17 beginning at 10 a.m. at WSU-IAREC. The second day of the conference will be for SCRI team members only, consisting of principal investigator research updates, an advisory committee/collaborative grower meeting, and strategic planning session.
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