Clean Plant Center Northwest: Protecting Fruit Trees, Grapes, and Hops

What does it take to protect important crops from harmful plant pathogens? In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we explore the work of the Clean Plant Center Northwest at Washington State University with its director, Sudarsana "Sud" Poojari.

Sud explains what clean plant material means, why it matters to U.S. agriculture, and how plant material moves through testing and treatment before being released as clean foundation material. We also explore how that foundation material is used by commercial growers and nurseries to help produce healthy fruit trees, grapevines, and hop plants.

In this episode:

• The mission and role of the Clean Plant Center Northwest
• What "clean plant material" means and why it matters
• The journey of plant material through testing and treatment
• How clean foundation material supports fruit trees, grapes, and hops
• How commercial growers and nurseries use clean plant material
• What CPCNW's work means for home gardeners
• The future of clean plant programs

Resources mentioned in this episode, along with a full transcript, can be found on our website.