- Author: Brooke Jacobs
The Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center (FNRIC) recently awarded four scholarships to new California tree fruit and nut growers to attend our 2nd annual “Principles of Fruit and Nut Tree Growth, Cropping and Management” extension course. Course instructors and members of the FNRIC advisory board reviewed applications from a long list of California growers to select four recipients.
Zachary Taylor is a new manager of his small family farm in El Dorado County. He and his uncle grow a wide range of tree crops including apples, pears, chestnuts, walnuts, grapes, olives, persimmons, figs and kiwifruits. In addition to helping run his family farm, Zachary and his wife Kara own and operate a second small business, Smokey Ridge Charcuterie. Zachary is enthusiastic to learn more about tree biology and compliment years of practical experience working in agriculture.
Roger Woodruff is a dedicated father with two years of experience managing a small prune orchard with Sunsweet in Tulare County. He is in the process of taking over management of 9,000 walnuts planted in January 2013. Roger is looking forward to formal training in tree biology and orchard management in our upcoming course, and appreciates UC's support of the farming community in California.
Matt Fortson has the opportunity to convert his family livestock business raising cows, pigs and horses into a commercial orchard. Although he has experience growing corn to feed livestock, Matt is looking forward to formal instruction in tree biology. Our course will help him prepare to plant olives, walnuts and almonds on his family farm in Stanislaus County.
Robert Mahoney is enthusiastic about the opportunity to compliment his business degree with a background in tree biology. He has farmed a small walnut orchard with his father for years. Over the past few years he has scoured all available extension literature, gotten practical hands-on experience working with Tehama County Cooperative Extension, and participated in the Almond Board of California’s Leadership Program. The information and experience provided by our course will compliment Robert's hard work and help prepare him to grow walnuts, almonds and prunes in Tehama County.
We look forward to meeting all the course participants on February 24th, 2014 at the second annual "Principles of Fruit and Nut Tree Growth, Cropping and Management" . Scholarship funding was provided by the Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center at UC Davis and a seed grant from the Office of Outreach and International Programs and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis.