Lorraine P. Berkett, University of Vermont. Overall project coordinator. Provide overall disease and arthropod subject matter expertise; oversee pest management decisions for research, extension and course development and implementation; have primary responsibility for developing pest management component of website, extension resource materials, answering pest management listserv questions, and preparing pest management manuscripts based on research findings; coordinate organic orchard demonstrations in Vermont.

M. Elena Garcia, University of Arkansas. Will have primary responsibility for development and implementation of the horticultural component of website, listserv, extension resource materials, manuscripts based on research findings, and will advise on academic course. Based on her broad perspective of what is occurring in organic apple production across North America, she will play a major role in the development of the regional workshop.

Robert L. Parsons, University of Vermont. Provide economic and farm financial management expertise; oversee economic data collection and conduct economic analysis of the two organic apple production systems; conduct the risk analysis; contribute expertise to the development of extension website, listserv, and resource materials and to the development of the academic course; guest speaker in course.

Heather M. Darby, University of Vermont. Provide expertise on organic methods to promote soil health and enhance its capacity to suppress soil-borne ‘pests’; provide expertise on ecologically-based ground cover management; oversee soil and ground cover management decisions in research; contribute expertise to the development of extension resource website, listerv, and materials and to the development of the academic course; guest speaker in course.

John P. Hayden, University of Vermont. Provide insights from experience as an organic farmer; provide expertise on organic standards, principles and practices; develop and teach organic fruit course and coordinate student internships.

Renae E. Moran, University of Maine. Provide horticultural and organic week management subject matter expertise for the research project; contribute to horticultural decisions for research and writing manuscripts based on research findings; contribute expertise to the development of extension website, listserv, and resource materials; coordinate organic orchard demonstrations in Maine.

Support Personnel: