Moran speaks with Kennebec Journal about start of apple-picking season

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

September 9, 2019 Cooperative Extension, Outreach, School of Food and Agriculture, UMaine in the News

Renae Moran, an associate professor of pomology at the University of Maine and a fruit tree specialist with UMaine Cooperative Extension, was quoted in the Kennebec Journal article “Apple-picking season begins — ready or not.” As orchards around Maine marked the start of the apple-picking season, experts said crops may need some time to catch up, the article states. Moran said this year’s crop looks good, despite the prediction it will be “less than average.” She said a cold spring hampered pollination, which delayed ripening of the fruit by about 10 days. “It was cold when the trees were in bloom,” she said. Domestic beehives were not as active because of the chill, and wild pollinators had to carry more of the load than usual, according to the article. Based on forecasts, Moran said, there are no weather events on the horizon that could stop apple season abruptly, and cold weather should hold off long enough for orchard owners to get all of their apples picked by mid-October. The Portland Press Herald and Sun Journal carried the KJ article.