Discuss: Ambassador of Fruit

Great article, and inspiring work.

If we would just get off our collective butts and try something different, myriad problems could be solved.

Unfortunately, we act as if the things we have become accustomed to doing for the past 60 or so years is gospel, and as if it is so difficult to change.

Thanks for the article!

Cheers.

I lived in the Okanogan and saw the burning of the apple orchards. It was creepy, looked like some end of the world scenario. I had been thinking about settling there and changed my mind when I saw that. What a waste. No wonder we have hungry people in this world if our food supply is based on crazy methods like this.

I enjoyed the article very much. I was surprised, though, that there was so little discussion about the problems with pesticides.

I loved this article - so much of what it did talk about was infused with the almost mystical part of growing food.  The good Doctor and his relationship with the farmers was compelling.  And his relationship with the fruit is only described by the word “love.”  It made me want to drive from LA to meet him.  I will look more deeply into his work. 

Thank you for this introduction.  It was a very worthwhile investment of my time!

Hi, Thanks for publishing the interview with Essie and the others. It was very well done and accurate.  At the precise time your article came out the University of Idaho, announced they were going to close down the Parma Experimental Station - it was a political decision- certainly not based on productivity or accomoplishments.  We immediately went to work and with the help of other farmers, master gardeners and the media we will probably receive funding for another year.  I would like to see if we could a few more copies to mail to the governor, President of the UofI and select legislators. I believe it will help our cause.  My wife and tramped all over Boise and could not find one copy of your magazine in any bookstore.  We raised a little h—l and hopefully that will change - soon. Thanks again for your fine reporting. Ron Mann
August 2nd 2009

Ron,
It’s sad to hear that funding for the program featured in the article is under threat.

In a changing climate, agriculture should be one of our primary concerns. More rapid changes in climate translate into more swings and variations in weather events on the ground. Droughts can be counted on to be longer, rain scarcer, or in abundant supply, humidity and temperature up or down, depending on the location. There will be - is perhaps now - a level of variability and thus a lack of predictability in the weather, out of the range of the usual weather events that we have become used to.

The success of our crops and thus our food supply currently depends on way too few varieties of basic foods. Our system is way too susceptible to failure.

The way to build food security is to make sure that there is adaptability and resilience in the agricultural system.

Organic farms do just that. And alternate varieties of fruits and vegetables can do that as well.

The only thing that I would like to see the good doctor do is to pay attention to native fruits, especially berries, as a source for cultivars for farmers.

Aside from that, I feel that his work is essential to a healthier agriculture. It is not an issue of whether or not it would be “nice” to have persimmons. It is a matter of building an agriculture that actually feeds us through the next century, 50 years, 5 years, next year.

This article almost brought a tear to my eye.  Having grown up most my life in Idaho I have seen my father work passionately on fruit crops.  I have been around countless doctors and administrators in my career and without a doubt, he is the hardest working man I know.  One would think such a novel program, such a prolific researcher would be rewarded.  Instead the myopic administrators at the University have said that the research center will be closed down due to a one time budget savings of an amount which is trivial compared to how much my father has contributed to the economy of the state.  People around the world in the field of agriculture know Parma, Idaho because of the work my father has done.  After over a decade and a half of service, with no vacation, working longer hours than anyone I know, after having a day named after him in the state, this is the reward he gets?  I pray people read this article and feel the outrage we all have at this asinine administrative blunder.  The University of Idaho should be ashamed of itself.

Wonderful Article!  I will be forwarding this to our Idaho Congressional Delegation.  Currently, due to the economic downfall, the University of Idaho has considered closing the Parma Experimental Station - Go Figure!  I recently retired after 30+ years from the USDA Farm Service Agency.  I have the utmost of respect for each and every farmer and all of those dedicated to sustaining our food supply.

It is because of the work of Dr. Fallahi and the organic grape growers like Mike Medes and Ron Mann that was my inspiration to establish an 80 acre organic farm and vineyard just east of the Parma research station.  It is a shame to waste the many years of research and more importantly the years of established fruits and vines with the research still in progress as is proposed by closing the Parma research facility by the University of Idaho. The ongoing research at the Parma facility will not only help Idaho but will and has helped the entire NW region in the grape and fruit production.  Unfortunately the state of Idaho has chosen to support research facilities which only promote beef and dairy farm welfare recipients instead of the non-polluting farms such as the fruit and grape industry.  When will Idaho wake up… and smell its beauty instead of the unregulated and stinking CAFO’s ???