About the Friends of Chapman Field
Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992, devastated much of South Florida, including the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station on Old Cutler Road and SW 67th Avenue. This station was originally set up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1923 to quarantine and acclimatize plants brought in from overseas to help improve the diet and industry of American citizens. By 1992 its 198 acres encompassed germplasm repositories for several plant species including sugarcane and cacao, and its researchers were investigating methods to reduce the spread of invasive pests brought to Florida through the importation of food products, as well as the genetic improvement of crops such as avocado, mango, passionfruit, and others.
After the devastation of the hurricane, the USDA reevaluated it's need for a research station in a part of the country that seemed to be losing a great deal of agricultural land to housing development. Within just a couple years it was decided that SHRS would be closed and the land would be sold. At this point the Friends of Chapman Field was organized as a grass roots effort to publicize the work of the station, to galvanize the support of the local community and other research institutions, and to keep SHRS intact and functioning. Petitions to Florida Senators and Representatives persuaded them to intervene with the USDA and forestall closure. Since then, the Friends of Chapman Field have worked with SHRS scientists and officials of the Agricultural Research Service to expand research opportunities through increased budgets and new research programs. A new $11 million research building was completed in 2013.
Board of Directors for 2019-2020
OFFICERS
Mossman, Ronald, Ph.D. President
Pearson, Stephen, Esq. Vice president
Mahaffrey, Libby Treasurer
OTHER DIRECTORS
Aiken, Laura Bradley, Karen Cunningham, Karyn Francisco-Ortega, Javier, Ph.D.
Evans, Edward Goldstein, Lenny Griffith, Patrick Hunsberger, Adrian
Husby, Chad, Ph.D. Keys, Dan Kraft, Doug McGuire, Raymond, Ph.D.
Morell, Craig Stribling, Jim
Mossman, Ronald, Ph.D. President
Pearson, Stephen, Esq. Vice president
Mahaffrey, Libby Treasurer
OTHER DIRECTORS
Aiken, Laura Bradley, Karen Cunningham, Karyn Francisco-Ortega, Javier, Ph.D.
Evans, Edward Goldstein, Lenny Griffith, Patrick Hunsberger, Adrian
Husby, Chad, Ph.D. Keys, Dan Kraft, Doug McGuire, Raymond, Ph.D.
Morell, Craig Stribling, Jim