May 2019 - 30

INDUSTRY NEWS
USDA offers help
for new growers
and universities or foundations
maintained by a college or
university; and private for-profit
organizations.
There is a 25% match under
this program. The match can
be waived with adequate
justification for applicants serving
underserved areas or populations.
The USDA's Beginning Farmer
and Rancher Development
Program (BFRDP) provides grants
to organizations for education,
mentoring, and technical
assistance initiatives for beginning
farmers or ranchers.
Applications are now being
accepted for 2019 and 2020. To
learn more, visit www.nifa.usda
and search for BFRDP.
Applications may only be
submitted by a collaborative
state, tribal, local, or regionallybased
network or partnership of
qualified public and/or private
entities. These collaborations may
include the following entities:
State Extension services; federal,
state, municipal or tribal agencies;
community-based organizations;
non-governmental organizations;
junior and four-year colleges
USDA scientist gets
fruit, vegetable honor
For her outstanding
contributions to food science and
processing, Agricultural Research
Service (ARS)
scientist Tara
H. McHugh is
the agency's
Distinguished
Senior Research
Scientist of the
Year for 2019.
McHugh is
director of the
ARS Western
West area. There, she oversaw
the development of new or
improved food processing
methods. In particular, her team
focused on creating valueadded
products from fruits and
vegetables deemed too small or
flawed for fresh market sales,
but are otherwise safe and
nutritious to eat. Their efforts,
in turn, led to the patenting,
licensing and commercialization
of several new food products,
including 100% fruit bars, edible
films and purees.
McHugh also oversaw the
development of infrared- and
ultraviolet light-based processing
methods. Her team's investigation
of ultraviolet processing opened
the door to increasing the
vitamin D content of mushrooms
and meeting 100% of the daily
recommended allowances.
TARA MCHUGH
Regional Research Center (WRRC)
in Albany, California.
Prior to becoming WRRC
director in 2018, McHugh led
the center's Healthy Processed
Foods Research Unit in Albany,
located in the agency's Pacific
Michigan group plans
2019 research funding
The Michigan Apple Committee
(MAC) board approved funding for
2019 research projects. Research
is an important part of MAC's
mission.
" Members of the MAC Board
of Directors select growers
to serve on the research
subcommittee, " said Diane Smith,
executive director of the MAC.
" The subcommittee analyzes
several research proposals and
recommends funding to the
board. "
MAC's research priorities are
set to support Michigan apple
growers and industry success. MAC
looks for
projects that
improve
profitability
and
production,
develop
new
markets and
products and identify consumer
trends and facts. MAC wishes
to support innovative research
that helps achieve MAC's mission
by enhancing the reputation of
Michigan apples.
" MAC accepts proposals from
many different research institutions
and centers of excellence, " Smith
said. " We are fortunate to have a
world-class agricultural instruction
right in our back yard with Michigan
State University, and this year, all
of the proposals we received were
from MSU researchers. "
Come tour Ontario with IFTA this summer!
IFTA Summer Study Tour
July 21-24, 2019 - Ontario, Canada
Norfolk and Georgian Bay Areas
Our local hosts have put together a great tour for us.
Stops include: orchards, cherry processing plant, research station
and equipment yard.
Topics include: Orchard systems / tree architecture transitions
● Management and economics of modern orchard systems including
Waffler-tip system ● Crop load management ● NC 140 rootstock trials
● Variety trials ● Apple production under super structure
including cement posts ● Innovative sprayers ● Intelligent Fruit
Vision (IFV) demonstration
Registration Opens Soon!
www.ifruittree.org
30 | FruitGrowersNews.com
http://www.nifa.usda http://www.ifruittree.org http://www.FruitGrowersNews.com
May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2019
