Jim McFerson
Ph.D., Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison M.Sci., Horticulture, Texas A&M B.Sci., Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-MadisonJim McFerson was born and raised in Midwest. In 1975, Jim received a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Horticulture; in 1977, an MS in Horticulture from Texas A&M, and in 1982, Jim earned his doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
From 1983-1988, Dr. McFerson worked as a vegetable breeder for private seed company, and from 1989-1998 Jim was a Research Geneticist with USDA Ag Research Service at Cornell University in Geneva NY.
Recently, Jim took on a split assignment as being Director for the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee (65% FTE) on top of his ongoing role as Manager of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (35% FTE).
Dr. McFerson has been active in pursuing the National Tree Fruit Technology Roadmap and many industry research groups:
- Rosaceous Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding Executive Committee
- Tree Fruit Technical Advisory Committee
- Prunus, Pyrus, and Malus Crop Germplasm Committees
- US Apple Research Committee Specialty Crops Research Team.
Jim lives in Wenatchee with his wife: Carol, who is an Outreach Coordinator with Columbia Valley Community Health. They have two daughters: Maureen – a WSU student, food science major, and KC, a philosophy major at Seattle University.