The current laboratory


building which was completed in 1987 brought together scientists, administrative staff and the library.


“This building will provide the potential for much greater interaction and cooperation among the staff, and the new equipment will permit a greater degree of sophistication in research procedures,” D.W. Bowden, station director, wrote in his forward to the book, Summerland Research Station 1914-1985 by W.W. Fleming. Fleming served as station photographer.


Ruth remembers F.E. (Ted) Atkinson, who was head of the food processing laboratory for many years, as “a very fine, knowledgeable gentleman who willingly shared his expertise”. Bill and Bob Barkwill, owners of Barkwills’ Cannery in


can be of value to current propagations,” said Darrell-Lee McKenzie, research technician. The excellence of


PARC’s apple and cherry breeding programs are recognized worldwide. Premium late-ripening varieties, such as


Sweethearts and Staccato, are acknowledged widely as having resurrected the cherry industry in B.C. Another important landmark was the


breeding of self-pollinated varieties which allow growers to have large blocks of one cherry variety.


SUSAN MCIVER


Retired plant pathologist Dave McIntosh, left, chats with Benoit Girard, program director.


Summerland, readily expressed their gratitude for Atkinson’s assistance in establishing their business. A member of the Summerland Rotary Club, Atkinson made fruit jelly candy as a fundraiser for the club in the early 1960s.


This project eventually grew into Summerland Sweets Ltd., which now produces fruit wine in addition to its wide selection of fruit candies, jams and syrups.


Dave McIntosh, a research scientist in plant pathology at the station starting in 1946, attended the open house to catch up on some of the changes since his retirement in 1978. Asked if he had developed the McIntosh apple, Dave laughed and said he “wasn’t that old”. McIntosh apples have a direct lineage to a single tree discovered in 1811 by John McIntosh on his farm near Morrisburg in Dundas County, ON.


Dave McIntosh, however, did make significant contributions to the apple industry, including the development of a heat method for control of apple viruses.


Heather Freeman, now a research analyst for the provincial agriculture ministry’s farm business management program in Vernon, made the trip from her home in Armstrong out of curiosity and a fond memory.


“I remember eating a huge, juicy 16 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2011-12


peach here (Summerland) when I was studying agriculture at UBC,” she said.


Freeman especially enjoyed the display of apple varieties, some dating from the 1600s, in the sensory evaluation laboratory.


“We’re looking to see if old genes


The first self-fertile variety, Stella, named in 1968, was bred at Summerland.


Cheryl Hampson, who heads both the cherry and apple breeding programs, is working to find a variety that matures between Lapins and Sweethearts.


Penticton residents Mel and Joyce Rich were particularly impressed with the electron and laser scanning


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