All citrus farmers, ag industry officials and the agricultural trade and general news media are invited to the dedication of the new $360,000 Citrus Clonal Protection Program screenhouse at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center near Exeter at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28.

A ribbon cutting, tour, dinner and presentations mark the opening of the 20,000-square-foot facility, designed to provide disease-free parent trees for the California citrus industry. The facility will be managed and maintained by the UC Citrus Clonal Protection Program to protect trees from aphids that carry the devastating citrus tristeza virus, which is becoming established in the Tulare County citrus growing region. Construction was funded and coordinated by the Citrus Research Board, a state marketing order that supports citrus research, education and quality assurance programs. The Board will also provide yearly operational funds.

"Working closely with the industry and the Citrus Research Board, we have been able to add state-of-the-art facilities at the center even when state funds have not been available," said Louis Whitendale, superintendent of the Lindcove REC. "This has been a tremendously effective partnership, both for UC and for California citrus growers."

In 1995, the industry supported development of a Fruit Quality Evaluation Center at Lindcove. The facility includes high-technology equipment that allows for grading, washing and packaging of research fruit using commercial methods, without disrupting a commercial packing line.

Register for the dedication dinner no later than Sept. 14 by calling Jennifer Logan at (209) 592-2408, Ext. 12, or e-mail jlogan@ucdavis.edu.

                          Agenda
                  Screenhouse Dedication
                  Monday, Sept. 28, 1998
          Lindcove Research and Extension Center
                 22963 Carson Ave., Exeter

5 p.m.
Introduction
Ted Batkin, President, Citrus Research Board
Robert Wynn, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, CDFA
David Gumpf, Professor, UC Riverside Dept of Plant Pathology
Franco Bernardi, Chair, Citrus Research Board

5:45 p.m.
Ribbon cutting ceremony and tour

6:30 p.m.
Dinner

7:15 p.m.
Fruit Quality Evaluation Center Update
Ted Batkin
Louis Whitendale, Superintendent, Lindcove REC
Franco Bernardi

8:30 p.m.
Closing statement
W. R. Gomes, VP, UC Div of Ag and Natural Resources

Jeannette Warnert
Public Information Representative
Ag and Natural Resources
UC Center
550 E. Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710