Pearson Takes Over At OSU’s MCAREC

Earlier this year, Dr. Brian J. Pearson was selected to become the new Director of Oregon State University’s Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Hood River; better known as MCAREC.  Dr. Pearson joined the OSU team after years of work in extension research in Florida.  So, why make the cross-country trip?

Dr. Pearson said Oregon State University’s great reputation was one of the things that attracted him the most to the job.

“Tree fruit production and working with specialty crops, is something that I really enjoyed in Florida.  And when coming here and visiting, especially when interviewing, I got to meet the stakeholders in the community.  And I got to see just how ingrained the stakeholders were in support of the institution, and then taking the results of research, and implementing it into the field, it just excited me and made me want to be part of it.” 

Pearson noted that often when people think about OSU and the research that takes place, they focus on the work done in Corvallis.  But he stressed having off campus research stations is a benefit to not only the school, but also area growers.

“We're located at the heart of, the epicenter, of tree fruit production, cherries and pears within the state of Oregon," he noted.  "And this is a critical important, for the greater regional needs as well, extending into Washington state and to Wenatchee.  And so, I think it's important that we're here to do research for our growers and to be a resource for them when they need help and extension research.” 

Dr. Pearson added by having research stations in the heart of production regions, they can conduct and focus on research addressing the problems and concerns growers have in quick fashion.  He added MCAREC plays an important role for the tree fruit industry, not only in the Northwest, but across the entire country.

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