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Dr. Emil Anderson being inducted into Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame

April 11, 2008, Vineland, Ont. –
Dr. Emil T. Andersen, one of the leading horticultural scientists in
North America, is one of four people being inducted into the Ontario
Agricultural Hall of Fame for 2008.

April 11, 2008, Vineland, Ont. – Dr. Emil T. Andersen, one of the leading horticultural scientists in North America, is one of four people being inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame for 2008.
    
Dr. Andersen began working at Vineland in 1967 when he moved to the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario (HRIO) as chief research scientist. He spent the next 16 years at HRIO until he retired from his full-time career in 1983.

During his tenure at Vineland, Dr. Andersen was responsible for several important outcomes including the introduction of new peach and grape varieties, trickle irrigation procedures, and the construction of state of the art greenhouses to support floriculture and vegetable research.

Dr. Andersen's horticultural career began in Alberta, followed by a move to head up horticultural research and teaching at the University of Manitoba. He completed his PhD in 1962 at the University of Minnesota, where he stayed to carry out research and teach fruit culture and pomology.

During the course of his career, Dr. Andersen introduced the Manota potato and Regent apple, and had responsibility for the introduction of Red Baron and Honeygold apple cultivars. Internationally renowned as one of the leading horticultural scientists in North America, Dr. Andersen has made numerous other research contributions that advanced horticulture, not the least of which has been his ongoing mentorship of students and growers.

Dr. Andersen's dedication to the advancement of horticulture has continued well into his retirement years, including work on the development of the Millennium Forest on the grounds of the Vineland Campus. This arboretum has become a favourite respite for local residents and a place where visitors can consult when trying to decide which trees to plant on their own properties.

Dr. Anderson was nominated by Byron Beeler and Neil Miles.

The induction ceremony will be held at Country Heritage Park on June 8, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 905-878-8151.

For more information, please visit www.oahf.on.ca .