Dr. Nnadozie Oraguzie, formerly a scientist with Hort­Research pipfruit breeding program in New Zealand, joined Washington State University on May 1 as stone fruit breeder. WSU’s breeding program started out almost 60 years ago with Dr. Harold Fogel in charge. He was succeeded in 1960 by Dr. Tom Toyama. When Toyama retired in 1985, WSU terminated the breeding program because of budget constraints. However, material from Toyama’s crosses has continued to be evaluated since he left and several new varieties, including the Tomcot apricot and the Chelan, Selah, Benton, Tieton, and Cashmere cherries have been named and released. The breeding […]