Gulf Coast Research And Education Center Celebrates New Addition

Posted by Frank Giles|December 7, 2015

During the 2015 Florida Ag Expo, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center (GCREC) officials held a ribbon cutting to celebrate a newly constructed 5,000 square-foot building to accommodate continued growth at the Balm-based facility. This year, the Expo celebrated its 10th anniversary as well as the Center celebrating 90 years of service to Florida growers.

2015 Florida Ag Expo GCREC ribbon cutting on new expansion.

During the 2015 Florida Ag Expo, dignitaries cut the ribbon on the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center’s (GCREC) new 5,000-square-foot expansion. [From left] Mike Stuart, FFVA; Kenneth Parker, Florida Strawberry Growers Association; Reggie Brown, Florida Tomato Committee; Tony DiMare, DiMare Fresh; Jack Payne, senior VP, UF/IFAS; Jack Rechcigl, UF/IFAS GCREC director; and Jackie Burns, UF/IFAS dean of research.

The new addition is situated behind the original building and includes 16 offices for graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and visiting scientists working at the research center. It also includes a multipurpose meeting room to enhance instructional capabilities for students and staff at the Center, in addition to rooms for research equipment and administrative records. The new Florida friendly landscaping surrounding the addition includes outdoor seating and a courtyard area that can be accessed from both buildings during meetings. The expansion was necessary to house the increased number of personnel associated with the research and Extension programs at GCREC and to provide space for future growth.

“When we built the research center here in Balm 10 years ago, we had 75 employees and now we have 150,” says Center director Jack Rechcigl. “This addition was needed to accommodate that growth. The new building and our partnership with Florida Grower magazine to host the Florida Ag Expo is emblematic of our commitment to serve growers in our area and throughout Florida.”

Special thanks to DuPont Crop Protection for sponsoring special coverage of the Florida Ag Expo.