Campaign for Tree Fruit Part 2

Campaign for Tree Fruit Part 2

Campaign for Tree Fruit Part 2. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

As part of WSU’s fundraising campaign there are hopes to raise $42 million to attract world-class researchers, outreach specialists, to develop and operate modern research orchards, and provide opportunities to educate the next generation of tree fruit leaders. Jay Brunner with WSU’s Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center.

BRUNNER: We have a leadership industry group that we formed, five people kind of in the northern part of the industry and five people in the southern part of the industry and then working with them and their connections throughout the industry we were able to identify three areas they thought the industry would be able to get behind and support though a referendum or assessment.

Brunner talks about those three areas.

BRUNNER: Those three areas are endowed chairs, kind of a new funding model for extension and outreach activities and then an endowment that would help fund research orchard operations, so just kind of basic operating for research orchards. So those are three areas that will be funded if the assessment passes.

The assessment will go to a vote and fruit growers will receive a ballot in the mail. That part is being handled by the Tree Fruit Research Commission and the WSDA.

BRUNNER: That will probably happen in May this year. Every grower gets to vote or every grower entity gets to vote and everything is passed by simple majority. And the assessment is time limited so it will be 8 years or shorter so if we reach the goal before 8 years then the assessment can be suspended without any other actions.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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