# SPARC


## Posts

- [ Curious about current tree fruit phenology across the US? Learn more on the SPARC Orchard Roundup Podcast! Every month, educators in PA, MI, NY, ME, and WA will provide tree fruit phenology updates for their region ](https://sparcscri.com/curious-about-current-tree-fruit-phenology-across-the-us-learn-more-on-the-sparc-orchard-roundup-podcast-every-month-educators-in-pa-mi-ny-me-and-wa-will-provide-tree-fruit-phenology-upda/)
- [Learn about cold hardiness and dormancy in apples and grapes with Jason Londo on MIFruitcast!](https://sparcscri.com/learn-about-cold-hardiness-and-dormancy-in-apples-and-grapes-with-jason-londo-on-mifruitcast/)
- [Learn more about SPARC with Lee Kalcsits and Emily Lavely on MIFruitcast!](https://sparcscri.com/learn-more-about-sparc-on-lee-kalcsits-and-emily-lavely-on-mifruitcast/): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/msue-fruit-team/episodes/Interview-with-Dr–Lee-Kalcsits-from-Washington-State-University-to-learn-about-SPARC-for-apple-and-pear-production-e33ju30/a-abvlueo
- [Low Temperature Damage to Peaches, Nectarines in Rock Springs, PA](https://sparcscri.com/low-temperature-damage-to-peaches-nectarines-in-rock-springs-pa/)
- [Researchers test cold-hardiness of pear varieties](https://sparcscri.com/researchers-test-cold-hardiness-of-pear-varieties/): Read more at: https://capitalpress.com/2024/09/17/researchers-test-cold-hardiness-of-pear-varieties/
- [Learn about SPARC with the Dr. Tree Fruit and Don podcast!](https://sparcscri.com/learn-about-sparc-with-the-dr-tree-fruit-and-don-podcast/): Learn more about SPARC in the Dr. Tree Fruit and Don Podcast, Season 6, Episode 1 – Introducing SPARC and Early Season Maintenance Listen below or check out the Dr. Tree Fruit and Don podcast website to listen on other platforms: https://extension.psu.edu/drtreefruit
- [New grant will help researchers protect apples, pears from extreme climate events](https://sparcscri.com/new-grant-will-help-researchers-protect-apples-pears-from-extreme-climate-events/): See the article at WSU Insider: https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2024/09/17/new-grant-will-help-researchers-protect-apples-pears-from-extreme-climate-events

## Pages

- [News](https://sparcscri.com/news/): News
- [Publications](https://sparcscri.com/publications/): Publications Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Freeze Damage in Peaches and Apples and Other Fruit Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, Lindsay Brown, Devansh Gupta, Michael Evans, Melanie Schupp, Jim Schupp, Daniel Weber, Don Seifrit. 2025. Freeze Damage in Peaches and Apples and Other Fruit. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/freeze-damage-in-peaches-and-apples-and-other-fruit Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, Devansh Gupta. 2025. Low Temperature Damage to Peaches, Nectarines in Rock Springs, PA. Penn State Extension , https://extension.psu.edu/low-temperature-damage-to-peaches-nectarines-in-rock-springs-pa Changing climate risks for high-value tree fruit production across the United States Preston S, Rajagopalan K, Yourek M, Kalcsits L, Singh D. 2024. Changing climate risks for high-value tree fruit production across the United […]
- [Our Team](https://sparcscri.com/our-team/): Our Team Project Director Lee Kalcsits Dr. Lee Kalcsits is an Associate Professor of tree fruit physiology in the Department of Horticulture at the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, Washington, USA. He serves as the Endowed Chair of Tree Fruit Environmental Physiology and Programmatic Lead at the WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center. His research program works towards understanding the physiological interactions between environment, horticultural management and genetics of apple, pear, and sweet cherry. Project Co-Director Kirti Rajagopalan Kirti Rajagopalan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Systems engineering with […]
- [SPARC SCRI](https://sparcscri.com/): Welcome to SPARC SCRI! Project Summary Extreme heat and cold events that deviate from seasonal norms are increasing. These unpredictable changes increase the risk of devastating crop losses, such as those experienced in apple and pear crops over the last two decades. The SPARC project aims to strengthen the rural economy and provide consumers with a consistent supply of quality fruit produced in efficient ways. To prevent crop loss, apple and pear growers require information and tools that will equip them to face extreme temperature events now and in the future. To address these issues, SPARC is working to better […]


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