Last week, leaders at Washington State University and the fruit industry gathered to celebrate the success of the WSU Tree Fruit Endowment, a $32 million fund that supports the research programs of five endowed chairs.
“Our partnership with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is, in many ways, right at the heart of our land-grant mission,” said Elizabeth Cantwell, WSU’s new president, in a statement. “It’s a nationally relevant example of how growers and universities can work together to benefit the future of food.”
Cantwell joined WSU in April.
According to a news release from WSU, the industry-supported endowment is one of the largest donations ever made to the university. Grower assessments from 2013 to 2020 built the fund.
The vision was to fund six endowed chair positions. Today, five are in place: tree fruit physiologist Stefano Musacchi, hired in 2013; postharvest physiologist Carolina Torres hired in 2018; environmental physiologist Lee Kalcsits, named as endowed chair in 2021; pathologist Frank Zhao, hired in 2022; and integrated pest management entomologist Tobin Northfield, named endowed chair in 2024.
A search for the sixth chair in the field of soil and rhizosphere science — a specialty which has proven difficult to fill in the tree-fruit sphere — is underway again, according to the news release.
“The establishment and, critically, the filling of these endowed chairs represent a monumental step forward for our industry,” said Sam Godwin, chair of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, in a statement. “They offer the stability required for sustained research, allowing our world-class scientists to delve deep into issues like pest management, disease resistance, climate adaptation and fruit quality. These chairs are also a powerful magnet for attracting top talent, ensuring the cutting edge of tree fruit science remains right here in Washington.”
The endowment also supports extension and outreach positions and research orchards and equipment. •
