Vintage Nurseries To Open New State-of-the-Art Testing Laboratory

This article presented by our sponsor, Vintage Nurseries

Dr. Tefera Mekuria, will head Vintage Nurseries’ new materials testing facility.

Vintage Nurseries, in its effort to raise the bar in providing better products, better people and better service, will open a new Materials Testing Laboratory this Spring.

Featuring special virus detection and other industry advancements, the lab promises a new era in quality control. Vintage officials say that the third party-certified facility will enable the company to test plant materials more quickly, thoroughly and cost effectively for its grower partners.
“This internal lab is one more step forward for our ‘growers first’ approach,” said Brad Kroeker, Quality Control Manager for Vintage Nurseries, based in Wasco, California. “We will provide guaranteed transparency in all testing results, while establishing a new level in supplying the cleanest vines possible. This lab represents our investment in the future, for the good of the industry.”

Heading the new materials testing facility will be Dr. Tefera Mekuria, who holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from Oklahoma State University and has worked at acclaimed Washington State University (WSU) IAREC-Prosser, studying plant viruses and other grapevine pathogens, as well as tree fruits.

“We are creating a new standard,” Dr. Tefera said. “We want to be the leading resource for qualitative testing, with faster turnaround, increased sample sizes and uncompromising attention to detail. This will also include expanding collaborative relationships with universities, regulatory agencies and forward-thinking private firms, to achieve cutting edge results.”

For more information about how Vintage Nurseries is improving its products and processes, call toll-free at 800/499-9019, or visit www.vintagenurseries.com.