Legislature recognizes UA fruit breeding program
Jan. 27, 2006Contact Information:
Dr. John R. Clark, Department of Horticulture
479-575-2810 / jrclark@uark.edu
Chuck Culver, Director of Development, U of A Division of Agriculture
479-575-2250 / cculver@uark.edu
By Fred Miller, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
479-575-5647 / fmiller@uark.edu
Dr. Milo Shult, University of Arkansas vice president for agriculture, second from left, presents framed copies of a joint house resolution from the Arkansas Legislature to, from left, Dr. John R. Clark, professor of horticulture; Dr. James N. Moore, retired distinguished professor of horticulture; and Dan Chapman, resident director of the U of A Division of Agriculture Fruit Substation at Clarksville. The resolution recognizes the contributions of the U of A fruit breeding program to the Arkansas economy.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A House concurrent resolution from the Arkansas Legislature applauds the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture fruit breeding program for its impact on the state’s economy.
The resolution recognizes Dr. James N. Moore, distinguished professor emeritus of horticulture and founder of the fruit breeding program; his successor, Dr. John R. Clark, professor of horticulture and head of the fruit breeding program; and the faculty and staff of the U of A Fruit Research Substation at Clarksville.
Dr. Milo Shult, U of A vice president for agriculture, said Arkansas fruit producers initiated the resolution. He presented framed copies of the resolution to Moore and Clark, and to Dan Chapman, resident director of the Fruit Substation, for display at the station.
“We felt like it was time they had some recognition for the impact they’ve had on the agricultural economy in the state,” said Jeremy Gillam, whose family operates Gillam Farms in White County. “And not just the state; U of A fruit varieties are known worldwide. You can’t go anywhere in the world where they haven’t heard the names of Arkansas blackberries.”
Gillam Farms is the largest commercial blackberry farm in Arkansas and one of the largest single-family operations in the country.
“The U of A’s production of quality plants, like the blackberries we grow, has revolutionized the industry and made a huge impact for our business,” Gillam said. “It’s been that way with everything they’ve done. They just have the Midas touch.”
Arkansas fruit crops contribute at least $9.8 million to the Arkansas economy, according to “Impact of the Agricultural Sector on The Arkansas Economy in 2001,” a U of A Division of Agriculture research publication.
“It’s hard to get a complete picture of the economic impact of fruit production in Arkansas because so much fruit is sold in roadside stands and similar fresh market outlets that are difficult to track,” Clark said.
The resolution also cites the release in 2004 of three new white flesh market peaches: White River, White Rock and White County, each named in recognition of a geographic place or feature of Arkansas. It notes that the release of these peaches represented the “remarkable accomplishment” of the testing and release of 40 fruit varieties in 40 years since Moore established the program.
Since 1964, Clark said, the U of A fruit breeding program has released three varieties of strawberries, 13 varieties of blackberries, seven varieties of grapes, three varieties of nectarines, one ornamental nectarine, three varieties of ornamental peaches, two varieties of blueberries and five varieties of processing peaches, as well as the three varieties of market peaches.
The document concludes with congratulations to the breeding program and peach growers of Arkansas “for their diligence and professional contributions to the economic well being and quality of life for citizens of the State of Arkansas.”