Dr. Perry began his career at Michigan State University in 1980 as a tree fruit extension
specialist and conducted research on tree fruit rootstocks, soil relations and high density
orchard development and management. He served as Professor and Chairperson of the
Department of Horticulture from 2000 to 2007 while maintaining an applied research
program in ground floor management in organic apples and continuation of assessing
new rootstocks for apples. As a state Tree Fruit Extension specialist, Dr. Perry initiated
the popular MSU Fruit Schools for over 15 years which educated over 800 growers from
the Midwest region. Additionally, he served as the Educational Coordinator of the
Michigan State Horticulture Society from 1994-1999 and he served as Executive
Secretary of the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association from 1986-1989. Dr. Perry
grew up in the garlic capital of California, Gilroy, on an apricot, cherry, prune and walnut
ranch. He attended Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, California and received a B.S. in Fruit
Production, in 1969. Following a 3 year stint in the US Army, he worked as a fruit
research technician and lecturer in the Department of Hort. Sciences at Texas A&M
University, where he concurrently completed the requirements for a Masters and PhD in
Horticulture. As a research associate he established wine grape variety trials throughout
the state and conducted studies regarding potential sites for wine grape production in that
state. While on faculty at Texas A&M, he taught courses in temperate fruit production,
citrus and subtropicals and tropical horticulture. He has returned to the faculty as a
Professor and will teach, conduct research and perform outreach in Precision Fruit
Production.