Page 3 - Impact Fall 2024

Enthusiasm for
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
As a student
participating
in the CFANS
Entrepreneurial
and Leadership
Program,
Benjamin Gross,
BS ’23 applied
economics,
learned valuable
lessons about real-world entrepreneurship
and sales thinking. Led by Jeff Stamp, a
teaching professor in the Department of
Applied Economics, the program began
in fall 2020 and has grown to include
460+ students from 39 different majors
across 10 U of M colleges/programs. In
2023, a University-wide Entrepreneurship
Minor—a CFANS collaboration with the
Carlson School of Management—grew
out of the program as well.
“I had the incredible privilege of
taking Dr. Stamp’s Value-Added
Entrepreneurship and Food and
Agricultural Sales courses, and I cannot
overstate the impact these classes
have had on me,” said Gross, owner
of Carbon Build & Design. “Dr. Stamp
encourages students to apply themselves
and critically engage with the content,”
he said, emphasizing the supportive
environment Stamp creates for students
with many different learning styles to
engage and grow.
The innovative program was made
possible through the generosity of
Steve Weekes, BS ’69 forestry and
founder of the Weekes Forest Products
Company, who provided the funding.
“I am sincerely grateful to the donor
who made this program possible,” said
Gross. “I hope to be in the position one
day to donate to such a program, as I
can wholeheartedly say this program has
changed my life. Thank you so much!”
All hail the Honeycrisp!
It’s apple season, and a new CFANS Insights survey reveals that more
than half of Minnesotans (52 percent) favor the Honeycrisp, a variety
developed by the U of M, and 32 percent are willing to pay extra for it. This
iconic apple, officially the state fruit since 2006, is just one of 29 varieties
created by the U of M’s apple breeding program, which started in 1878.
Additionally, 80 percent of Minnesotans prioritize buying locally grown fruit,
which is above national averages.
“These findings highlight the enduring legacy of the Honeycrisp apple
in Minnesota,” said Jim Luby, one of the original breeders responsible
for the Honeycrisp. Luby, who retired in August after 41 years leading the
Fruit Breeding Program, notes that Honeycrisp is now among the top three
apple varieties grown in the U.S., with production steadily rising.
Honeycrisp’s sweet, crunchy, and juicy profile continues to delight
Minnesotans, who value those traits in their apples. With 20 million pounds
of apples grown annually in the state, and over 140 orchards across
Minnesota, the apple industry remains strong.
Honeycrisp’s influence extends beyond itself, with newer U of M
varieties like SweeTango®, First Kiss®/Rave®, Triumph®, and Kudos® being
its descendants. Forty-five percent of Minnesotans surveyed knew that
Honeycrisp was developed at the U of M, underscoring the University’s role
in creating world-renowned fruits.
“Honeycrisp has not only proven itself to be a consumer favorite but
also an outstanding breeding parent,” said David Bedford, U of M Fruit
Breeding Program research scientist. Its unique traits continue to inspire
new apple varieties, ensuring Minnesota apples remain a consumer favorite
for years to come.