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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear University Colleague,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Could you please help spread the word about the upcoming symposium described below to your faculty? At this point, we are trying to reach those who would be interested in doing a presentation (oral or poster) as we want to receive abstracts before the end of the year. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Granatstein and Preston Andrews, Symposium Conveners<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><img width=935 height=152 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CC9A40.D502B290"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>2<sup>nd</sup> International Organic Fruit Research Symposium<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%'>“Organic Fruit 2012: >From Research to Practice”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>June 18-21, 2012 -- Leavenworth, Washington, USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Second Announcement -- Call for Abstracts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Organic fruit production and marketing has expanded dramatically worldwide in the past decade. How much bigger can it grow? What are the barriers to it reaching its full potential, what research is underway to advance its growth, and what more is needed? What are the impacts of the organic fruit production and marketing system on society and the environment, and what are its implications for policy makers? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Come learn and share your research and experience on the current and future state of organic fruit production and marketing. Gain insight on the biggest challenges and where your research could make a difference. Confirmed speakers included Dr. Franco Weibel (organic fruit in Europe), Dr. Imre Holb (plant pathology challenges), Dr. Charles Benbrook (impacts of organic fruit systems), and Dr. Robert Prange (post-harvest and human nutrition issues). The U.S. market for organic fruits will also be discussed. Participation is encouraged for all types of organic fruit – pome and stone, berries, grapes and citrus, temperate to tropical.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We encourage you to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation. Instructions for abstracts can be found at <a href="http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/organicfruit2012/Call_for_Papers">http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/organicfruit2012/Call_for_Papers</a> . We are requesting submissions by December 15, 2011 so we can review them and notify authors by mid-February. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please contact Preston Andrews <a href="mailto:andrewsp@wsu.edu">andrewsp@wsu.edu</a> .<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At this research Symposium, located in a major organic tree fruit and berry producing region, we will examine and discuss crop production, plant protection, genetics, soils and nutrition, post-harvest, markets, policy, and economics, and the impacts of organic fruit on the environment and people. We will feature speakers on key trends that are likely to shape the organic fruit sector in the next decade and the research underway that will help keep it viable. There will be a dedicated plant pathology track (both pre-harvest and post-harvest) because of the important barrier diseases represent in many regions of the world. Poster sessions will allow researchers to share their findings in more detail. A tour of local organic farms and fruit companies will be offered. This event is a follow-up to the 2008 organic fruit conference in Vignola, Italy, the 2006 organic pome fruit conference in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the four North American Organic Tree Fruit Research Symposia (2001-2007).<o:p></o:p></p><p style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Washington State is a leading producer of high-quality organic apples, pears, cherries and berries that are marketed nationally and globally through retail distribution chains, as well as locally at farmers' markets and food co-ops. The state encompasses both arid to semi-arid climates with fewer disease problems, as well as a wetter maritime climate with more disease problems. From large to small farms, Washington State is successfully producing organic fruit, with organic apples comprising nearly 10% of the area of all commercial apples in the state. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Symposium will be held in the city of Leavenworth, nestled in the eastern foothills of the beautiful Cascade Mountains, which separate wetter western Washington from the drier east. Centrally located on the edge of the main fruit-growing regions of the state, Leavenworth is about 3 hr driving time from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Tourism opportunities abound, from wine tasting, to white-water rafting, to hiking. Three national parks are within a half-<a name="_GoBack"></a>day’s drive, as well as Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i>Who should attend?</i></b> This Symposium will be attractive to researchers, extension professionals, growers and consultants, suppliers, and retailers who wish to share the latest developments in the world-wide organic fruit supply chain. Research presentations will predominate (through oral and poster sessions) along with discussion periods and networking opportunities. Accepted papers will be published as a volume of <i>Acta Horticulturae</i>. Registration details will be available in the near future. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Check the symposium web site for further details as they become available <a href="http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/organicfruit2012/">http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/organicfruit2012/</a> . For more information, contact David Granatstein, Washington State University <a href="mailto:granats@wsu.edu">granats@wsu.edu</a> .<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please feel free to post this announcement and share it with interested colleagues. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>--Sponsored by International Society of Horticultural Science <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>--Organized by Washington State University<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>