Dr. Mark Gaskell of the University of California Co-Op Extension focuses on specialty crops, small fruit crops, vegetables, sustainable agriculture, small farms in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Mark graduated with his M.S. in Crop Physiology and Production from Iowa State in 1978, and earned his Ph.D. in Crop Physiology and Production from Iowa State University in 1980.

Dr. Gaskell has won a number of prestigious awards, including:

• • The U.S. Fulbright Senior Scholar - Morocco 2012-2014
    Presented by Fulbright Scholar Program, http://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/2011-2012_ffsb_annual_report.pdf, 2012
    
    
  • The USDA-NIFA team award - "National Cooperative Extension Award for Excellence and Diversity"
    Presented by USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), http://www.aplu.org/public-voice/2014-stories/10---oct/publicvoice---oct14---cooperative-ext-usda, 2010

Gaskell has become a worldwide expert in alternative crops and markets, including off-season, fresh-market small fruit (blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry) production, fresh-market edamame production in California for domestic or export markets, lychee, longan, and exotic subtropical fruit production in California.

He works closely with small farms and vendors on optimizing soil management practices for efficient organic vegetable production and improving production and marketing efficiency on small farms

Contact Information

Cooperative Extension Santa Barbara County
2156 Sierra Way, Suite C
San Luis Obispo, CA, CA 93401
(805) 788-2374
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http://cesanluisobispo.ucanr.edu