About Us
The Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center was created in 1995 to make University of California research-based information publicly available and coordinate extension activities in planting, growing and harvesting fruits and nuts.
Today, the Center provides practical advice in fruit and nut production, information on best management practices developed by the UC Cooperative Extension, and connections to current research and new technologies.
Our Activities
When the Research and Information Centers were organized under the Department of Pomology (now Plant Sciences), an Academic Plan was developed that states:
The Center, established in 1995 and consisting of all University of California personnel with work related to the production and handling of fruit and nut crops, serves four primary groups:
- Pomology Extension Continuing Conference (PECC)
- Research and Extension Faculty
- Fruit and Nut Industry Groups
- General Public and Government Agencies
The FNRIC's principal method of extension is through the aggregation of fruit and crop information, including many resources derived from University of California research, and hosted on our website.
Work on the website focuses on updating content, improving accessibility and support to California's fruit and nut industries, and increasing public awareness of UC accomplishments. Priorities include development of interactive databases and web pages that aid in timely decision making, obtaining feedback, and increasing the site's usability.
Just as the FNRIC website facilitates online communication between the University of California, the fruit and nut industry and the public, it also facilitates internal communication among all UC personnel involved in fruit and nut research and extension through a combination of listserve groups, collaborative tools, and calendars.
The Center coordinates conferences, short courses, and meetings, and provides hands-on training sessions, workshops and website development services to further our mission of making University of California research publicly available. Please see the Event Services document for information about what we offer.
FNRIC actively seeks to determine fruit and nut crop research and industry needs, particularly those with cross-commodity application, and hosts an annual research coordination meeting involving UC Liaison officers, commodity group research chairs, and commodity group research coordinators to facilitate research coordination among the various California fruit commodity groups and the University programs.
The Center also coordinates related grant application and project development. An example is the interactive chilling hour calculator and harvest prediction modules located in Weather Models. The FNRIC actively cooperates with the other Research and Information Centers (RICs) and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Communication Services computer support in pursuing our mission.