PURPOSES
The purposes of this Center are to:
-
increase linkage with, and outreach to, the vegetable industry and other primary vegetable clientele;
improve Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension efficiency to address increased needs and opportunities with reduced staff and resources; and
create a more visible and active focal point
both within and outside the University for research and outreach activities related to vegetable production, postharvest handling, processing, marketing and consumption.
|
The Department of Vegetable Crops at UC Davis, the Botany and Plant Sciences Department at UC Riverside, and other UC departments have undergone dramatic changes in recent years. For example, the number of vegetable faculty at the two campuses has decreased by over 25% since 1990. In contrast, the vegetable industry in California continues to increase in size and complexity. Records that were formerly available on 40-45 vegetable crops are now reported for more than 60; of those, 30-35 have farm gate values of more than $10 million annually. Vegetable acreage has continuously increased from approximately 900,000 to 1.3 million acres over the past decade. California's percentage of total US vegetable production has increased from 40% to more than 50%; the percentage of total US farm-gate values has increased from 65% to 75%. Vegetable crops now contribute over 20% of California's total agricultural value. At the same time, water limitations, restrictions on pesticide availability and use, urban-rural interfaces, human nutrition, and biotechnology are all issues that have increased in importance and complexity during this time of reduced University resources. The number and diversity of audiences have also increased, each bringing needs and expectations. Together, these factors call for new approaches to meet the needs of the State and the responsibilities of the University, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and Cooperative Extension. |