Dr. Ron Perry began his career at Michigan State University in 1980 as a tree fruit extension
specialist in the Department of Horticulture. He conducted research on tree fruit rootstocks,
soil relations, high-density orchard development and management, and ground floor management
in sustainable orchard systems. Dr. Perry initiated and conducted the popular MSU Fruit Schools
for over 15 years, which provided training for over 800 growers from Michigan and other midwestern
states. He served as Executive Secretary of the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association from
1986-1989, and he was Educational Coordinator for the Michigan State Horticultural Society from
1994-1999.
In October 2000, Dr. Perry became Acting Chairperson of MSU’s Department of Horticulture and
was named Chairperson in March 2002. As Department Chair he served on the Michigan State
Horticultural Society Board as an Ex- Officio Board Member. He completed his service as
Chairperson this past July. While serving in this position, Dr. Perry was committed to seeing
the department serve the needs of Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industry, as well as the
state’s nursery and landscape and floriculture industries. He formed the first Horticulture
External Advisory Committee to provide improved dialogue with industry and public horticulture
stakeholders. He regularly met with the boards of industry organizations. He encouraged the
development of MSU’s Student Organic Farm and CSA. In a time of tight budgets, Dr. Perry
provided leadership in getting key faculty positions filled, notably in vegetable production,
viticulture and post harvest physiology.
Ron 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, receiving a B.S. in Fruit
Production in 1969. He then served for three years in the U.S. Army where he received a commission
as an officer in the Medical Service Corps. Following his Army service, Ron worked as a fruit
research technician and lecturer in the Department of Horticulture Sciences at Texas A&M University,
where he concurrently completed the requirements for Masters and PhD degrees in Horticulture.
As a research associate at Texas A&M, he established wine grape variety trials throughout the
state and conducted studies regarding potential sites for wine grape production in that state.
Dr. Perry will be returning to the faculty as a Professor and will teach, conduct research and
perform outreach in fruit and wine grape production.
For his leadership as Department Chair over the past seven years and his career of research,
extension and teaching at MSU, the Michigan State Horticultural Society with its Distinguished
Service Award and the Michigan Vegetable Council with its Master Farmer Associate Award are
recognizing Dr. Ron Perry.