A mechanical harvester is part of a major research project relating to production and marketing of stem-free sweet cherries. More than $60 million dollars in grants have been awarded so far through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative specifically for research ­projects in tree fruit and grapes. This is the fourth year of the five-year program, which was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. Most projects involve scientists of various disciplines from multiple institutions and private companies. This fall, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, which administers the program, announced the fourth year of awards. The largest new grant, for […]