2018 ASHS Annual Conference

For 30 years Dr. Crassweller has led Penn State’s Horticulture extension program and he co-chairs the Tree Fruit & Grape extension team. He chairs the tree fruit program for the Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Conference. He also coordinates educational programs for the National Peach Council and the tree fruit sessions, which involves inviting speakers for 25 presentations, including initiation of an educational session in Spanish for orchard workers. Rob coordinates the annual Mid-Atlantic Cider Competition with about 25 entries. In a typical year he makes 15 to 25 presentations at county, regional or county fruit meetings around the state. In the 1980s he developed an innovative computer-aided expert system for apple thinning. At the national level Dr. Crassweller has melded his applied research and extension activities by participating in several multi-state projects. He has participated in 16 international assignments on 3 continents to work with fruit growers and recommend production practices to improve their operations. Thanks to Dr. Crassweller’s leadership, the PA fruit industry is successfully transitioning to intensive orchards with high-value cultivars and the industry supports Penn State extension.