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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2018 - Jun 30, 2019


Success StoryIncreasing profitability of Kentucky nurseries with improved pawpaw cultivars



Increasing profitability of Kentucky nurseries with improved pawpaw cultivars

Author: Sheri Crabtree

Planning Unit: KSU Administration

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Outcome: Initial Outcome

To be competitive, nurseries must offer unique plant material that is in demand from consumers.  Kentucky State University's Horticulture Extension Program works with several nurseries in Kentucky assisting them with propagation and growing advice, troubleshooting pests and diseases, cultivar recommendations, and obtaining propagation material.  KSU has released three improved pawpaw cultivars (KSU-Atwood, KSU-Benson, and KSU-Chappell) that were developed through selective breeding and rigorous variety trials. We have assisted nurseries in propagating KSU cultivars, which are now available for sale at their nurseries. Improved cultivars are in high demand from consumers and sell for $10-15 per tree more than seedlings, leading to a greater profit for these nurseries. This year, Kentucky nurseries sold on average 50 trees per nursery of KSU improved cultivars, a profit of $500-750 per nursery annually, which will increase in coming years as their nursery stock matures. We will continue to assist these nurseries with propagation material and information on methods of propagation. Additionally, we have worked with one Kentucky native plant nursery that did not previously sell pawpaw trees with growing information, leading to that nursery now selling pawpaw seedlings for $20-25 per tree. Another past participant in KSU pawpaw field days, Third Thursday Things, pawpaw workshops, and pawpaw conference has started their own nursery this year specializing in pawpaws, based on information received from KSU horticulture extension, and will have trees available for sale next year of KSU trademarked cultivars and other improved cultivars.  






Stories by Sheri Crabtree


Learning to graft pawpaw trees as a means to improve yield

about 5 years ago by Sheri Crabtree

Pawpaw is a native fruit to Kentucky; therefore many small farmers harvest fruit from wild pawpaw tr... Read More


Aiding nurseries in producing improved pawpaw cultivars for increased profits

about 5 years ago by Sheri Crabtree

Over 50 pawpaw cultivars are currently commercially available, however, the great majority of these ... Read More


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This summer, I chatted with a six-grader girl that attended my Rookie Cooking Camp last year. Rookie... Read More


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A Family Youth Resource Center Coordinator at Mcferran Preparatory Academy contacted Agent and reque... Read More