UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jayson Harper, director of the Fruit Research and Extension Center in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences since March 2019, retired from Penn State effective Jan. 17.
Grzegorz Krawczyk, Penn State Extension tree-fruit entomologist and research professor in the Department of Entomology, has been appointed as the new director.
Located in Biglerville, Adams County, in the heart of Pennsylvania's fruit belt, the Fruit Research and Extension Center — often referred to as FREC — is an important resource for the state’s tree-fruit industry. The facility is under the college’s Office for Research and Graduate Education unit and is a part of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.
With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the fruit industry and other sources, the center creates science-based knowledge and innovative solutions that help keep the industry strong and viable. Methods and recommendations generated from research at the center are disseminated to growers and processors through Penn State Extension programs.
Harper’s career as a professor of agricultural economics at Penn State spanned more than 35 years, during which he had extension, research and teaching responsibilities in crop production economics, risk management and farm business management.
“I’ve always been intrigued by how economic factors influence people’s daily lives,” he said. “I grew up in the Midwest, so the role of agriculture in our economy has always interested me. That’s why I went to graduate school at the University of Arkansas and Texas A&M University and studied agricultural economics.”
His expertise in agricultural economics and business management enabled him to implement various changes in operating practices and income generation at FREC to help sustain it.
“Some of my proudest achievements have resulted from my multidisciplinary collaborations with agronomy, entomology, horticulture and plant pathology faculty members,” he said. “I believe that I collaborated with faculty members from every department in the college throughout my career.”
As FREC director, Harper oversaw all personnel and financial activities while providing and communicating the strategic vision for the center. He said researchers at FREC strive to be at the forefront in managing invasive pests and testing innovative fruit-production systems.
“They are making major efforts to help growers manage diseases and insects, meet labor challenges, and produce high-quality fruit,” he said. “With support from the college and the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, we have made major investments in infrastructure to ensure that FREC can continue to conduct the research projects and extension programs needed by Pennsylvania’s fruit growers. We have a great group of people at FREC, and I look forward to following their accomplishments in serving our dynamic fruit industry.”
Blair Siegfried, the college’s associate dean for research and graduate education and director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, says the center — and Harper’s contributions — have been vital to Penn State's partnership with the state's fruit industry.
“Jay has been incredibly successful in leading FREC and facilitating interactions with growers and industry,” Siegfried said. “We are grateful to him for helping to sustain and grow these important partnerships.”
Krawczyk began working as a postdoctoral scholar at FREC in 1997 after earning a doctoral degree from Michigan State University. In 1999, he took on the role of extension fruit entomologist.
“My research and extension programs are dedicated to helping the Pennsylvania fruit industry adopt and integrate the latest biological and technological advances in insect pest management, supporting the sustainability and profitability of fruit production,” said Krawczyk, who also holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a master’s degree in plant pathology from the Agricultural University, Lublin, Poland.
His entomology research program focuses on integrated pest management and arthropod monitoring, particularly insecticide resistance management and conserving beneficial insects and pollinators essential to the fruit ecosystem.
Krawczyk has authored and co-authored several outreach and research publications on pest management in sustainable fruit production. He frequently presents at national and international conferences and has received multiple awards for his scientific contributions.
“The historical interactions between Pennsylvania’s fruit industry and Penn State demonstrate how applied research and education can meet stakeholders’ needs and drive innovation,” he said. “The positioning of FREC at the center of the industry, along with the direct interactions between the center’s researchers and fruit growers, is a key reason why our state’s fruit industry is thriving and Pennsylvania apple and peach production rank in the top five in the nation.”
As director, Krawczyk plans to support and enhance collaboration between FREC researchers and fruit growers to develop new options that assist the industry. He said the multidisciplinary team of researchers supporting the fruit industry at FREC offers a unique opportunity for developing new technologies and their swift practical implementation.
“With support from the college and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, we will sustain and enhance the level of professional excellence for which our center is known,” he said. “Collaborating with various branches of the USDA and private ag-supporting industries for the benefit of growers bolsters our ability to assist growers not only from Pennsylvania but also from the entire eastern region of the U.S.”
Siegfried said he is confident that Krawczyk will continue to advance FREC’s mission.
“Greg has demonstrated a deep commitment to industry needs throughout his career in research and extension work around pest management of fruit trees, contributing significantly to profitable fruit production,” Siegfried said. “We are excited to welcome him into this role.”