MERIDIAN, Idaho-1,4GROUP, Inc. of Meridian, Idaho, announces the hiring of Dr. Jim Zalewski as the company's new director of research and development. Dr. Zalewski earned his doctorate degree at the University of Wisconsin in plant pathology and subsequently taught the subject for four years at Oregon State University. An interest in potato science led him to Ore-Ida where he worked as manager of agricultural research for 14 years. He then spent 10 years at NatureMark Potatoes overseeing the company's commercial applications research. For the past seven years he has owned and operated his own company providing on-site agronomic consulting to southwest Idaho growers. He worked one-on-one with growers and processors in the industry to help find solutions to production and storage problems.
"Jim has extensive in-field experience that will be extremely helpful in solving the challenges of potato storage across a complex matrix of varieties and storage conditions," said John Forsythe, general manager of 1,4GROUP, Inc. "We believe that serving our customers on an in--dividual basis, and seeing the issues they face first hand is critical in developing new technologies that really work. I am confident that Jim will further our mission as an innovator of new sprout inhibitor and application products."
Dr. Zalewski can be contacted at 1,4Group's headquarters in Meridian, Idaho or by phone at 208-887-9766.