Position Title
In Memoriam
Cooperative Extension specialist
1928-2016
JAMES (Jim) A. BEUTEL
Birth: 1927, Orange, California
Death: December 28, 2015, Vacaville, California
Education
- B.S., Agricultural Science, UCLA
- M.S., Horticulture, University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Ph.D., Pomology, Rutgers University
Employment
- UC Cooperative Extension, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties
- Lecturer and Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Pomology, UC Davis (1963–early 1990s)
- Research collaborator, UC Agricultural Experiment Station
- Co-owner and operator, K&J Orchards, Winters, California
Military Service
- U.S. Navy, World War II and Korean War
Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies
- Contributor, UC Cooperative Extension Small Farm Program
- Longstanding participant in California Clingstone Peach breeding programs
- Recognized contributor to fruit industry research and outreach
Research Contributions and Impact
Jim Beutel was a pioneering UC Cooperative Extension specialist whose career in pomology significantly shaped California's tree fruit industries. He was instrumental in introducing and expanding the cultivation of kiwifruit and Asian pears in California. His research and extension work guided growers in adopting best practices for cultivation, harvest, and crop economics. His UC Small Farm Program reports remain widely referenced resources for growers and agricultural professionals.
Beutel also played a key role in combating the pear decline virus that struck California in 1959. He collaborated with industry partners and other researchers to improve disease management in orchards and worked closely with the cling peach industry. From 1979 to 1987, Beutel contributed to the UC breeding program, which released major Clingstone peach varieties, including Ross and Dr. Davis, that are still industry standards today. He was also involved in evaluating dwarf peach and nectarine trees and advocated for water-efficient farming, researching drip irrigation during his doctoral studies.
Jim Beutel’s work centered on the evaluation and introduction of new fruit crops, tree physiology, and orchard management.
- He played a major role in helping establish kiwifruit and Asian pears as viable specialty crops in California, publishing grower-oriented guidance through UC Cooperative Extension.
- He was also deeply involved in addressing pear decline, a viral disease that impacted the California industry starting in the late 1950s.
- In peach research, Beutel evaluated breeding selections and contributed to the release of multiple clingstone peach varieties, including Ross and Dr. Davis, which became industry standards for processing. His doctoral work focused on utilizing drip irrigation to optimize fruit yield while minimizing water usage.
Publications and Scholarly Leadership
- Reports for the UC Small Farm Program on orchard management, crop evaluation, and small-scale fruit production.
- Co-author, Maintaining the Competitive Edge in California's Canned Fruit Industry (UC Agricultural Issues Center, 1992)
Teaching and Mentorship
As a lecturer in the Department of Pomology, Beutel taught courses related to fruit crops and advised graduate students. His mentorship in orchard-based research projects fostered the careers of many in UC Cooperative Extension and the broader fruit production industry.
Collaboration and Community
Beutel worked closely with Cooperative Extension farm advisors, growers, and statewide industry boards. His research and outreach supported both small-scale and large commercial producers. In retirement, he and his wife operated K&J Orchards, selling fruit to farmers markets and notable restaurants across Northern California and Nevada.
Legacy
James A. Beutel is remembered for his applied research, hands-on mentorship, and deep commitment to California growers. His contributions to fruit crop diversification, breeding, and outreach continue to support the success of the tree fruit industry across the state.
References
For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources: