Accomplishments for Jerome L. Frecon

Born and raised on a 220 acre fruit and vegetable farm, Frecon Fruit Farms, Inc. in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Viable operation for 57 years in Berks County, Pennsylvania: Package salesmen at Frecon Orchards Inc, supply business in 1967-68; Reestablished Frecon Orchards Outlet retail operation in 1969. Expanded to garden center and produce wholesaling business. Assistant Instructor, Instructor, and Assistant Professor at Delaware Valley College, a small fully accredited college of science and agriculture in Doylestown, Pa., from 1966-1973. Received tenure in 1971; Taught college level classes in Introductory Agriculture, Commercial Fruit Production, Advanced Pomology, Horticultural Marketing, Horticultural Processing, Systematic Horticulture, Small Fruit Culture, and Horticultural Techniques; Wrote own course outlines and three course manuals; Taught many students holding prominent positions in agriculture and horticulture, many that have received advanced degrees and are on university faculties. Assistant Commercial Sales and Service Manager at Stark Bros. Nurseries and Orchards Co. in Louisiana, Missouri, 1973-77. Stark Bros was America’s oldest fruit tree nursery and one of the largest in the world at that time. Supervised and selected sales areas and increased sales to commercial orchardists in the mid Atlantic areas and the southeastern United States. Traveled in most areas of the United States, Canada and Mexico resolving technical problems with grower customers on fruit growing. Involved in the introduction and development of a number of prominent tree varieties including; Stark Gala and Stark Royal Gala – handled the distribution of all free trees to research stations and testers. Collected information on performance from these testers and provided this information for commercial sales literature and promotion. Wrote commercial sales literature with this information. Held press conferences, wrote press releases, and spoke at grower meetings on the performance of these two varieties. Planted the oldest commercial planting of Gala in family orchard, now almost 30 years old. Stark Bros was responsible for the development and distribution of Gala and I was the major player in the establishment of Gala as a major variety in North American Orchards; A similar program was followed with the following varieties including: Stark Redgold (Andergold cultivar) nectarine, Stark Summer Beaut (Anderbeaut cultivar) nectarine, Stark Early Loring ( Beyers cultivar) peach, Starkspur Compact Red Delicious (Cascade cultivar), Reimer Red and Canal Red Pears, Stark Blushing Gold Apple (Griffith cutivar), Starkspur Red Rome (Taylor cultivar), Starkspur Ultrared Delicious ( Flanagan cultivar), Starkspur Arkansas Black ( Longacre cultivar), and Starks Supreme Staymared (Tuttle cultivar); Promoted and served as Research Director and Product Development Manager of Stark Bros. Nurseries and Orchards Co. from 1978 to 1982. Developed research team that expanded from 5 people to 13; Increased financial resources to conduct applied research and product development; Assistant to the President of the company; Managed all financial and personnel resources of Product Development and Research Department; Wrote much of and approved all technical copy in annual 14 million pieces of sales literature to home gardeners and growers; Developed first international licensing program for Stark Bro Varieties in Europe with Delbard International; This program established framework of later licensing programs in South Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, Australia and Japan to both import new cultivars and export Stark Bros varieties; Established new trademarkeing and naming program for Stark Bros varieties. These agreements paved the way for importation of better Gala cultivars from New Zealand, and low chill varieties purchased from Stanthorpe, Australia. Developed and consummated the first purchase of fruit varieties from a public fruit breeding program then purchased 11 varieties from the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station; Selected NJ 260, NJ F-2, NJ 252, peaches and NJ49 and NJ 86 apples; Responsible for finding, testing, buying, trade marking and writing patents for each of the following cultivars: 1983 United States Patent No. 5123 - NJ F-2 - Peach. Stark Saturn; 1982 United States Patent No. 4908 Spur Apple - Frecon Cultivar. Starkspur Winter Banana; 1982 United States Patent No. 4800 Spur type Cortland Apple - La Mont Cultivar. Starkspur Cortland; 1981 United States Patent No. 4793 Spur Type Red Rome Apple - Peach Valley Cultivar. Starkspur Law Rome; 1980 United States Patent No. 4740 Apple tree - NJ 49 Cultivar. Stark Summer Treat; 1980 United States Patent No. 4572 NJ 260 Peach Cultivar. Stark Encore; 1980 United States Patent No. 4731 Apple Tree Goldensheen - No. 2 Cultivar. Stark Ultragold; 1980 United States Patent No. 4575 Krieger Rhubarb. Starkscrimson Rhubarb; 1979 United States Patent No. 4383 Spur Type McIntosh Apple. Starkspur Compact McIntosh; 1979 United States Patent No. 4383 Mutation of Summerland Red McIntosh - Dewar Cultivar. Starkspur Ultramac; Saturn peento peach was the first of its kind and a major variety in Washington and California. Encore is the most important peach variety in New Jersey and important variety in the Northeast and and Midwestern states. Also planted in New Jersey were Summer Pearl Peach (NJ 252 cultivar); I also found and negotiated the agreements for a heartnut (Atkinson cultivar), Stark Champion walnut (Rodhouse cultivar), Stark Surecrop pecan (Osterman cultivar), various small fruit varieties, the compact self fertile cherry-Starkcrimson, the early nectarine Stark Crimson Gold (Zaigold cultivar), and Starkspur Dixiered Delicious ( Hared cultivar), Starkspur Granny Smith (Greenspur cultivar); All of these cultivars were tested in the forty-acre test orchard under my supervision. Information of free trees distributed for testing by others were evaluated and the results published and used in sales literature a major factor in their acceptance and utilization by the national and international fruit industry. Developed streamlined virus indexing program for nursery program, found new rootstocks for stone fruit, developed new weed control program and other innovations for fruit tree nursery production; Contracted technology that resulted in the micro propagation of fruit tree nursery stock; Organized a consortium of four nursery operations and the development of a new nursery – Micro Plant in Woodburn, Oregon to propagate fruit and ornamental trees with this technology; Hired the manager and helped start the nursery which is till operating and expanding the technology: Microplant Nurseries in Woodburn, Oregon recently completed twenty years of operation and is one of the largest micropropagation nurseries in the world today. Agricultural Agent II and I equivalent to Associate Professor and Professor 1 of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Cook College Rutgers University - 1982 to present; Developed and delivered an educational program to the fruit and nursery industry of southern New Jersey; The fruit industry in the six county areas served generates about 28 million dollars in revenue while the nursery and allied industries in Gloucester County now generates about 20 million dollars in revenue. Ninety eight percent of the 8,700 acres in New Jersey are in this area The value of the New Jersey Peach industry according to recent USDA tree indemnification figures is $124,800,000. This extension educational program was accomplished using the following methods of program delivery: Writing approximately 260 articles in various non extension periodicals on fruit, nursery and agricultural subjects; These include 8 book chapters and charts published and distributed on an international level; 22 articles in peer reviewed journals and other publications; 38 articles in national and international trade periodicals; 48 articles in regional trade publications; 89 articles in New Jersey trade publications; 37 in proceedings, abstracts and reviews; 5 United States Plant Patents; Organized and taught 223 conferences, workshops, meetings, tours, symposia on fruit and nursery science; Approximately 14,684 growers, nurserymen and allied industry personnel and students have attended these sessions; These include 14 groups from China, France, Australia, Italy and other areas of the United States; Made 162 presentations as an invited guest or volunteer on fruit and nursery science; These included: 16 at international meetings and conferences; 83 at national meetings and conferences; 41 at New Jersey meetings which I have not chaired or organized. I have also written and presented 22 television shows on Gardening and Fruit Growing; Written 248 Rutgers Cooperative Extension Publications and Articles on Fruit and Nursery Science; These included 178 articles in the RCE Plant and Pest Advisory Newsletter; 6 Peer Reviewed fact sheets and bulletins; significant portions of Five Tree Fruit Production Guides and significant portions of 10 Tree Fruit Production Recommendations; 49 Other Extension Research Reports, Marketing Bulletins, and other fact sheets; Involved in the development of a electronic peach price information; the operation of a state peach festival, the development of regional peach varieties recommendations including those used in a peach expert system; Written and received 94 grants on fruit science and agriculture for $956,500. These included 72 grants in which I was the principle or co investigator. Serviced as either an officer or business manager for the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, the New Jersey Peach Council, and the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council. I have been Business Manager and Publisher of the quarterly magazine of the NJSHS and been actively involved with various committee responsibilities in the American Pomological Society, The National Peach Council and The International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association. I have been most recently the annual editor for the Peach and Nectarine list for the APS/ASHS Fruit Registry published in Hort Science. The results of this extension education program has resulted in the following impacts on the local, national, and international level: Encore Peach – When this peach was found by me in the NJAES breeding program it had been discarded by the New Jersey Fruit Industry and the New Jersey Peach Council. While in my position at Stark Bros I purchased the variety tested it, and wrote the patent assigned to Stark Bros. When I came into extension I recognized the need and value of this peach for our New Jersey industry. Today it represents 9.2 % of our peach tees and 11% of volume worth about 3 million dollars in revenue, the number one peach in the state. It is also an important peach in other Middle Atlantic States, the Midwestern states and in Washington State. Significant revenues have come to the NJAES as a result of the sale of trees of this peach by three major tree fruit nurseries; 1980 United States Patent No. 4572 NJ 260 Peach Cultivar (Written while at Stark Bros.) Laurol Peach – I found this peach in a grower’s orchard in Richwood. After testing and further evaluation I purchased the variety for the New Jersey Peach Council and wrote the patent assigned to “the Council” This is the most heavily planted new peach in New Jersey representing 5.4% of our acreage and currently ranks 5th in importance. It is also and important variety in other mid Atlantic States. It has provided significant and in some years the only revenue to The New Jersey Peach Council that funds my research on Variety development. 1993 United States Patent No 8650 Laurol Cultivar – Peach; John Boy Peach – I evaluated and tested this variety found in one of my grower’s orchards. I wrote the patent for this variety assigned to Adams County Nursery. It is the second most heavily planted new peach variety in New Jersey and fifth in total tree numbers. It is also an important variety in other mid Atlantic States and is and will be the replacement for Redhaven. 1987 United States Patent No. 6827 Clendining Cultivar – Peach; Lady Nancy Peach – I evaluated and tested this variety and wrote the patent on the variety. This is a major white fleshed peach cultivar in the Middle Atlantic States. 1989 United States Patent No. 7069 DeMarco Cultivar – Peach; Saturn Peach – While this variety was a major variety selected by me from the NJAES while in my position at Stark Bros Nurseries, it is now the most heavily planted flat or Peento peach. I purchased the variety for Stark Bros, wrote the patent, and did significant testing and distribution of trees. I continued to test and evaluate flat peaches and have about 20 growers in the with plantings in the middle Atlantic States. A California marketer coined Saturn as the Donut peach. Approximately 220,000 25 pound boxes of Saturn have been shipped in 2001 according to the California Tree Fruit Agreement. Approximately 40,000 25 pound boxes are also shipped from Washington and Saturn is used as a standard in fruit breeding programs in other countries of the World. 1983 United States Patent No. 5123 - NJ F-2 – Peach; Ginger Gold – I wrote the patent for Ginger Gold apple for Adams County Nursery which is now an important national and international variety. 1988 United States Patent No. 7063 Ginger Gold Cultivar – Apple; White low acid peaches in the northeastern United States. Having a long relationship with Zaiger Genetics and Dave Wilson Nurseries in California I have been the first to test many of their varieties as test numbers. I tested White Lady as a test number and through my recommendations it is now the number one white fleshed peach throughout the eastern and Midwestern areas of the United States. It ranks number 12 in New Jersey with 1.8% of our trees. I have also tested Lady Kim and Sugar Lady and both have been named and planted. Other varieties from my testing program are Snobrite, Snow Giant, Summer Sweet, Sugar Giant, and Klondike now planted by middle Atlantic growers as the white fleshed peach industry grows. White Lady is the 12th most important variety in New Jersey. Nectarines in the middle Atlantic area - The variety Easternglo from Zaiger Genetics was named because of my testing program. Easternglo is one of the top five nectarine varieties planted in New Jersey. Summer Beaut, a variety tested in Missouri, is a major variety in the area. These with the varieties Sunglo and Red gold have been tested and resulted in almost 700 acres in New Jersey basically 650 more than when I came to the state. The tree indemnification program established by the USDA values this nectarine industry at $11,200,000; Other peach varieties tested in New Jersey – Many other varieties planted in the middle Atlantic area are the result of my testing program. I was one of the developers of Ernie Choice and Salem; one from the breeding program, and one from a large orchard in Elmer New Jersey. The USDA varieties Bounty and Sentry were tested in my program and are among the top ten varieties in our state and important in other middle Atlantic States. The Flamin Fury varieties from Michigan have been widely planted after initial testing in my program. The most important and the most heavily planted are FF#17 and FF#23; Plum pox – I was the first to identify Plum pox from a sample of peaches brought to my variety showcase by a peach grower from Adams County Pennsylvania. This was later confirmed by the USDA-APHIS-PPQ after testing in the orchard. This set into motion a North American program that has resulted in an eradication, education, and a survey program in North America. This survey has resulted in the identification of plum pox in Ontario Canada and verification of no plum pox in other areas of the United States; Peach tree propagation for hardwood cuttings – I developed and refined a program to root and grow finished trees from softwood cuttings. This procedure was used by a significant number of orchards in the Middle Atlantic area; Peach tree pruning - My research on time of pruning has reduced fall and winter peach tree pruning resulting in increased cropping and reduced peach tree short life in New Jersey; Apple cultivar testing – Ginger Gold, numerous Gala cultivars, Fuji cultivars, Enterprise and Staymared Supreme have been planted and grown in New Jersey as a result of my program. Many peach and apple cultivars tested in my program have not been planted because of these testing programs; Integrated Pest and Crop Management – A cost effective integrated pest management program was developed and delivered by my colleagues under the direction of Dean Polk that has resulted in significant cost savings, reduced pesticide, and nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer use without reducing fruit quality. My role has been to promote and assist in delivery, assist with research, conduct nutrient evaluations, make fertilizer recommendations, and troubleshoot problems. Approximately 35 growers and 4500 acres of tree fruit subscribe to and receive this program in southern New Jersey. Technology has been adapted in other states; Water management research - Water management tree fruit has improved as a result of my research and educational programs in a six county area. At least 2000 acres of tree fruit have been converted from conventional irrigation to trickle or low water use irrigation in the past five years in southern New Jersey. We have also learned that trickle irrigation has allowed us to reduce irrigation rates of Sinbar and Karmex on low organic matter soil without reducing weed control.

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		Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an Equal Opportunity Employer. frecon@aesop.rutgers.edu.