Reducing Production Costs
of Horticultural Products
CSREES facilitates programs to reduce production
costs of quality horticultural products to
maintain a competitive position of U.S. horticultural
producers in the global marketplace. Two
multistate research programs— NE-103,
Postharvest Physiology of Fruits, and NE-183,
Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple
Cultivars—serve as examples.
NE-103 has
enabled growers and storage facility operators
to make decisions on optimum harvest times
and storage conditions to best maintain fruit
quality. This effort has increased their
profitability, saved potentially millions
of dollars annually by avoiding chemicals
used in fruit storages, and reduced food
safety risk for storage workers and consumers
through reduced use of chemicals.
NE-183 has
given consumers a wider selection and assured
high quality apples as a result of tests
being done for apple varieties originating
form North America, Europe, New Zealand,
Australia, and Japan. NE-183 has provided
information to apple producers where geographically
a particular cultivar or strain is best suited,
thus preventing an enormous investment of
money, time, and effort by each of the apple
districts throughout the United States and
Canada.
NE-183 has enabled the U.S. apple industry
to remain competitive with foreign producers,
keeping apple prices low for the benefit
of consumers without sacrificing quality
and profitability. Horticultural needs/issues
have been identified in collaboration with
CSREES land-grant university partners, horticultural
societies, horticultural professional associations,
and others.
CSREES invites input to assist us in identifying
and prioritizing major needs. Send
input to Jim
Green, CSREES National Program Leader
in Horticulture.
Back to Horticulture Home Page |
