Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

A newsletter for faculty, staff and students

July-August 2004 • Vol. 30, No. 4

Local Master Gardeners lend a hand with fruit research

Master Gardeners are lending their green thumbs to fruit research at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Friends of Fruits volunteers, from left, Robert Crosier of Madison County; and Claudia Slezak and Mary Ann Bardwell, both of Fayetteville, spend time each week harvesting apples and helping with lab fruit quality analysis.

Friends of Fruits is a volunteer program that involves Master Gardeners in the research, education, and outreach program of the tree fruit and organic horticulture program within the Department of Horticulture.

Under the direction of Dr. Curt R. Rom and the supervision of program technician Jason McAfee, the volunteers help with data collection, fruit harvest, fruit quality assessment in the lab, measurement of plant growth and response, weekly pest scouting, computer data entry and information.

“The volunteer time put forth by Friends of Fruit has significantly helped with our research efforts,” McAfee said. “They have shown admirable enthusiasm and interest in the area of fruit crop science.”