Mission:
The Appalachian Fruit Research Station (AFRS) conducts fundamental, applied and developmental research on critical problems of temperate fruit production (apples, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries). The AFRS develops new knowledge, germplasm, and technology to maximize productivity and quality of fruit crops, and minimize the adverse effects of biotic and environmental factors on fruit crops to ensure a stable and cost-efficient supply of safe and nutritious fruits to American consumers. Programs focus on germplasm enhancement through molecular and traditional breeding techniques, identification of the critical mechanisms involved in plant physiological processes, development of principles and technology for cost-efficient cropping systems with minimal environmental impact, development of knowledge and sensory techniques for mechanical harvesting, sorting and grading of fruit crops, computer vision technology to aid mechanization and development of knowledge and technology to protect fruit crops using biological control, natural, plant-derived compounds, and other environmentally friendly materials.