The Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (previously known as the Dominion Experimental Farm at Summerland and Summerland Research Station) is an agricultural research centre in British Columbia, Canada. The centre has been historically important in the development of tree fruits. It is administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and includes sites at Summerland and Agassiz.[1]
Flowers at the ornamental gardens, once part of the centre's ornamental horticulture program
The centre was founded in 1914 as the Dominion Experimental Farm at Summerland. It was renamed as the Summerland Research Station in 1959 after the addition of plant pathology and entomology laboratories,[2] and later combined with a nearby experimental farm (at Agassiz, British Columbia) to form the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in 1996.[3] The centre was originally founded to research the suitability of different plant and animal species to local growing conditions, but later branched into plant pathology as well.[4] Early in its history, the centre also had an ornamental horticulture department, beginning with a garden laid out in 1916 that grew into a 6-hectare English landscape garden. As the centre's priority shifted to tree fruits, this program was phased out, and in 1991 care of the ornamental gardens was taken over by a local garden society.[5]
Notable researchedit
The Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre has been particularly important in the development of tree fruit varieties; it is estimated that approximately 75–80% of cherries eaten worldwide are from varieties developed there.[6] The technology and processes to manufacture commercial fruit leather were also developed at the centre.[4]
Some notable fruit varieties developed at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre include:
Selected cultivars developed at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre
Coronation grapes
Spartan apples
Stella cherries
The centre also holds the Canadian Plant Virus Collection, which includes specimens of many plant viruses, some freeze-dried and others maintained alive in perennial plants.[2] The collection, one of the largest of its kind in the world, includes more than 350 isolated strains of 160 viruses, which are available for use as reference material in the event of viral outbreaks.[17]
Registered historical siteedit
The former superintendent's residence at the centre is a listed site at the Canadian Register of Historic Places since 1990. Constructed between 1923 and 1926, the house is set within a private garden within the research station, and is the oldest surviving structure at the site. Initially built to house the station superintendent, it has not been used for that purpose since 1969, instead being used for an administration building, library, and museum.[18]
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The Pacific Agri Food Research Centre previously known as the Dominion Experimental Farm at Summerland and Summerland Research Station is an agricultural research centre in British Columbia Canada The centre has been historically important in the development of tree fruits It is administered by Agriculture and Agri Food Canada and includes sites at Summerland and Agassiz 1 Contents 1 History 2 Notable research 3 Registered historical site 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Flowers at the ornamental gardens once part of the centre s ornamental horticulture program The centre was founded in 1914 as the Dominion Experimental Farm at Summerland It was renamed as the Summerland Research Station in 1959 after the addition of plant pathology and entomology laboratories 2 and later combined with a nearby experimental farm at Agassiz British Columbia to form the Pacific Agri Food Research Centre in 1996 3 The centre was originally founded to research the suitability of different plant and animal species to local growing conditions but later branched into plant pathology as well 4 Early in its history the centre also had an ornamental horticulture department beginning with a garden laid out in 1916 that grew into a 6 hectare English landscape garden As the centre s priority shifted to tree fruits this program was phased out and in 1991 care of the ornamental gardens was taken over by a local garden society 5 Notable research editThe Pacific Agri Food Research Centre has been particularly important in the development of tree fruit varieties it is estimated that approximately 75 80 of cherries eaten worldwide are from varieties developed there 6 The technology and processes to manufacture commercial fruit leather were also developed at the centre 4 Some notable fruit varieties developed at the Pacific Agri Food Research Centre include Aurora Golden Gala apple 7 Coronation grape 8 Creston apple 9 Jubilee apple 10 Lapins cherry 11 Nicola apple 12 Skeena cherry 13 Spartan apple Stella cherry 14 Sweetheart cherry 15 Van cherry 16 Selected cultivars developed at the Pacific Agri Food Research Centre nbsp Coronation grapes nbsp Spartan apples nbsp Stella cherries The centre also holds the Canadian Plant Virus Collection which includes specimens of many plant viruses some freeze dried and others maintained alive in perennial plants 2 The collection one of the largest of its kind in the world includes more than 350 isolated strains of 160 viruses which are available for use as reference material in the event of viral outbreaks 17 Registered historical site editThe former superintendent s residence at the centre is a listed site at the Canadian Register of Historic Places since 1990 Constructed between 1923 and 1926 the house is set within a private garden within the research station and is the oldest surviving structure at the site Initially built to house the station superintendent it has not been used for that purpose since 1969 instead being used for an administration building library and museum 18 See also editCentral Experimental Farm Dominion Experimental Farm at Indian Head SaskatchewanReferences edit Science and Innovation Pacific Agri Food Research Centre a b Celebrating 100 Years of Research at Summerland Agriculture Centre Archived 2018 12 19 at the Wayback Machine BC Gov News McIver Susan Pacific Agri Food Research Centre celebrates 100 years Penticton Herald a b Summerland Museum Summerland a Brief History History of the Summerland Gardens Archived from the original on 2018 09 05 Retrieved 2018 09 05 Symons Gary A Century of Innovation at Pacific Agri Food Research Centre Orchard and Vine Magazine C R Hampson R A MacDonald H A Quamme D L McKenzie amp W D Lane 2005 8S6923 Aurora Golden Gala Apple HortScience 40 1 251 253 doi 10 21273 HORTSCI 40 1 251 Fresh Market Grapes British Columbia Grape Grower s Association New Apple Cultivars Creston Retrieved 8 March 2014 Jubilee by Orange Pippin Last Bite From refugee to cherry breeder Good Fruit Grower goodfruit com Retrieved 2018 08 14 SPA 440 Nicola Apple HortScience 40 7 2204 2306 2005 Skeena Sweet Cherry HortScience 35 2 306 307 April 2000 Stella a Self Fruitful Sweet Cherry Canadian Journal of Plant Science 51 252 253 May 1971 Sweetheart wins award as Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Good Fruit Grower UC Davis Foundation Plant Services Prunus Encyclopedia Crop Protection Biotechnology at the Pacific Agri Food Research Centre in Summerland Agriculture and Agri Food Canada Canada s Historic Places External links editSummerland Research and Development Centre government homepage 49 14 35 N 121 45 51 W 49 24303 N 121 76429 W 49 24303 121 76429 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pacific Agri Food Research Centre amp oldid 1183135206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
