Lindcove REC calls for research proposals

Lindcove REC is primarily a citrus research center, but avocado, pomegranate and olive trees are also grown there and other crops are welcome.

Lindcove Research & Extension Center, located in the foothills of Tulare County, has land, labor and facilities available for 2018-2019 research projects. The Research Advisory Committee reviews proposals and projects and evaluates them based on scientific merit and regional need. While Lindcove REC is primarily a citrus research center, avocado, pomegranate and olive trees are also grown there and other crops are welcome. 

It has 0.74 acres (block 64C) of open ground available for planting.

Citrus orchards available for research:

• Atwood navels on trifoliate rootstock (Field 12), 4.5 acres, planted 1970
• Valencia strains on mixed rootstock (Field 11S), 2.5 acres, planted 1993
• Lane late navel on mixed rootstock (Field 54NW), 2.15 acres, planted 1990
• Fukumoto navel on mixed rootstock (Field 64W), 1.49 acres, planted 2005

The packline has an electronic fruit grading system, a high-pressure fruit washer, waxer and dryer.

The electronic fruit grading system in the packline provides individual fruit data including weight, size, volume, number, scarring, texture, brix and color. The packline also has a high-pressure fruit washer, waxer and dryer.  Three cold storage rooms that hold 60 fruit bins each, walk-in cold boxes, and de-greening rooms have the capability for ethylene gassing. 

The Fruit Quality Evaluation Laboratory is capable of evaluating rind thickness, granulation, texture, puff and crease, juice weights, Brix, sugar/acid ratio and the California standard. A staff research associate located at the center is available to collect data in the field and laboratory.

May 15, 2018, was the deadline for submittals before the RAC committee met, however, Lindcove REC is always open to off cycle projects.

To submit a proposal, go to the UC LREC website http://lrec.ucanr.edu/, click on the' ‘research' tab, then the ‘submitting a proposal' tab, then the ‘Proposal management' tab. Detailed instructions of how to submit a proposal can be downloaded using the ‘User Guide' link on the RAC project management page. 

If you have any questions regarding research, contact Beth Grafton-Cardwell, director, at (559) 592-2408 Ext 1152 or eegraftoncardwell@ucanr.edu.

If you have any questions regarding land, labor and facilities, contact Kurt Schmidt, superintendent, (559) 592-2408 Ext 1153 or krschmidt@ucanr.edu.

For information on submitting proposals, contact Jasmin Del Toro, business services officer, (559) 592-2408 Ext 1151or jzdeltoro@ucanr.edu.

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