Different segments of the Specialty Crop Industry (e.g., wine/grape, citrus, apple, stone fruits, ornamentals, etc.) have been organizing independently during the past several years to address critical research needs.

However, because each segment, individually, only represents a relatively small portion of the overall specialty crop industry, many of their needs do not receive attention in national research programs.

Consequently, those individual industry segments have created a research collective to examine common research needs. What they have found is that one of their primary industry-wide concerns is the availability, skill level, and cost of labor—their single greatest production cost—that harms their competitive position internationally. But, that is only part of the story.

These industries also need Tools and Technologies that can improve production efficiency, product quality, post-harvest operations, and reduce their environmental footprint.They have agreed that automation, robotics, precision agriculture, sensors, and other advanced technologies are needed to help their industries and its producers become more efficient, productive, and sustainable