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For Immediate Release Contact: UC launches Specialty Crop Jamboree '03 Fresno -- The University of California Small Farm Program recently launched the "Specialty Crop Jamboree '03” to develop, adapt and commercialize new niche crops for California's family-scale farmers. The project is supported by two grants - a $150,000 research grant from the Department of Food and Agriculture's Buy California Initiative and an $80,000 specialty crop outreach and education grant from USDA's Risk Management Agency. Crops being researched include blueberries, pitahayas, guavas, guayabas, papayas, mangoes, Thai chili, jocotes, edamame, Szechwan peppers, capers, water chestnuts, water spinach, jujube, nopales, pineapples, longans, litchi and tea. "We have high hopes that the project will develop a number of new opportunities for the state's small-scale farmers," said Desmond Jolly, the project coordinator and director of the UC Small Farm Program. "Our farm advisors have had astounding success in creating opportunities for blueberry production in California." Farm advisors taking part in the niche crop experiments and education programs are Manuel Jimenez, Tulare county; Richard Molinar, Fresno County; Benny Fouche, San Joaquin County; Mark Gaskell, Santa Barbara County; Aziz Baameur, Santa Clara County; and Ramiro Lobo, San Diego County. Following are workshops and field days that are scheduled for August: August 5 August 6 August 13 August 14 August 14 # # #
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