About Us
The Fruit Horticulture Program
This program has two research missions: variety evaluation and cultural improvements in fruit production. The results of our work are made available to the public through talks, seminars, publications, bulletins, field days and the internet.
- Variety evaluations test different varieties and kinds of fruit to find those best suited to the cool, humid climate of the Puget Sound region. Primary criteria for evaluation are high fruit quality, disease resistance, productivity, and ease of culture. These evaluations are of use both to the commercial grower and to the home orchardist and backyard gardener.
- Cultural trials are designed to lead to improvements in horticultural methods and materials. Some recent research includes training of grape vines, grape rootstock selection, chemical thinning of apples, soil fertility, improved cherry culture, and rootstock and training of pears.
Bulletin EB 0937 Fruit Handbook for Western Washington: Varieties and Culture (Revised 2006) describes the varieties that have performed best in our trials to date and a basic guide to cultural factors such as site selection and preparation, soil fertility, pollination and pest control.
Our Staff
Dr. Carol Miles supervises the Fruit Horticulture Program at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC.
Carol became the Fruit Horticulture Program supervisor in 2007. She oversees the program and provides input and review of new and continuing projects, while Gary Moulton is responsible for program implementation. Carol earned her Ph.D. in Vegetable Crops from Cornell University in 1993. She also earned her M.S. in Vegetable Crops from Cornell University while her B.S. is in Bio-Agricultural Sciences from Colorado State University. Her research program focuses on field production practices for vegetable crops, and new alternative crops. For more information, see the Vegetable Horticulture program website.
Gary A. Moulton directs the tree fruit and grape research in the Fruit Horticulture program.
Gary came to the program in 1980 and after Dr. Bob Norton's retirement in 1991, now directs the tree fruit, grape and alternative fruit crop trials. In consultation with Dr. Miles, he sets up projects, manages program staff and resources, and maintains contacts with fruit growers, winemakers and cider cooperators, master gardener groups and others interested in fruit research.
Jacqueline King has been working as a technical assistant in fruit projects since 1979.
Part of her time is spent in the field, in data collection, harvest sampling, recording observations, working with volunteer helpers, and photography. She is also responsible for helping prepare drafts and editing bulletins, reports, and proposals, updating web pages and helping to organize field days and other public presentations.
Part-time,volunteer and student help, both in the harvest season and year-round, are very important in the fruit research programs. We try to encourage an interest in horticulture and an understanding of our projects so that students and summer crew become a part of the team. Some student crew members have returned for several seasons, gaining knowledge and experience as well as an interest in agriculture as a future career field.
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