Department of Horticultural Science Seminar

DATE: Monday, October 7, 2019
TIME: 3:00 PM
PLACE: 121 Kilgore Hall

ZOOM link: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/102807814

SPEAKER:
Dr. Mark Hoffmann
Assistant Professor, Small Fruits Extension Specialist
Department of Horticultural Science, NCSU

TITLE: It’s all about the Longterm: Two years into the development of a comprehensive extension and research program for small fruits in North Carolina

Dr. Hoffmann currently serves as an extension specialist to the North Carolina strawberry industry and the North Carolina grape and wine industry. In the last decade, a multitude of factors led to the steady growth of both industries, with North Carolina currently being the 3rd largest strawberry producer, the 2nd largest strawberry propagator and the 11th largest wine producer in the US. The North Carolina grape and wine industry itself has doubled its’ economic impact over the past ten years, from ca. $1bn to almost $2bn in 2017. Growing industry sectors have multiple layers of needs, and extension programs often play a crucial role in providing support, be it in the form of research, education, as a mediator or in a leadership role. Building a comprehensive extension and research program to serve such a dynamic industry is a long- term undertaking, which requires the building of trust, constant communication, collaborations and the development of a robust research program. As a candidate for reappointment, Dr. Hoffmann will explain principles on which his team is developing an extension and research program, and some of the recent outcomes of those efforts.