South Coast Research and Extension Center (SCREC) was established by the University of California in 1956 as a representative site for agricultural research in California's south coastal plain-temperate climatic zone. Located on 200 acres of deep, moderately sloped, alluvial fan soil, the center and its mild winter climate are conducive to farming a wide range of crops including subtropicals. Although freezing weather may occur in late December and January, frost damage is rare and limited mostly to tender annuals. Severe Santa Ana winds that can be destructive to trees, bed mulches, and light farming equipment occur no more than three times from October to April.
SCREC serves as a regional field laboratory for UC scientists to conduct agricultural and natural resources management research and extend research-based information to a wide spectrum of audiences. The center provides land, irrigation water, labor, equipment, and other facilities, and it serves as a repository for germplasm collections of many subtropical plants.
Intensive research efforts are focused on fruits and vegetables including, but not limited to, avocados, citrus, strawberries, cherimoyas, carambolas, persimmons, carrots, celery, sugarbeets, and tomatoes. Over the years the center has earned a distinguished reputation, and the University now holds several U.S. patents for strawberry and avocado variety development. Considerable effort is also directed at agronomic crops, turfgrass and landscape shrub/tree management, and ornamental plant nursery production in the greenhouse and in the field. The center is also complemented by supporting work in entomology, plant pathology, biological control, and integrated pest management.
The urban character of SCREC affords a unique opportunity for UC scientists to analyze many public policy issues in the agriculture-urban interface debate. New research emphasis at SCREC will be directed to elucidate impacts of production practices on air and water quality and land use, and to develop production methods to mitigate potentially adverse environmental degradation. Another potential area of research focus will be the development of new alternative high-value or industrial use crops through classical breeding and biotechnological approaches.
The center has a laboratory for processing research plant samples equipped with compound and dissecting microscopes, limited glassware, an autoclave, and an exhaust hood. Greenhouse bench space is also maintained for research in four small greenhouses used for rearing whiteflies, in a medium-sized greenhouse used for strawberry breeding and general seedling production, and in a large, state-of-the-art greenhouse, which is endowed with a computerized environment control system and tensiometer-controlled irrigation systems in each of four separate bays. There is also a lathhouse on the premises for acclimation of most plant species and growing of tender stock.
The center also operates a large variety of tractors and implements and can perform most of the general farming cultural practices.
SCREC features administrative offices and four other offices specifically designed to accommodate departmental and extension academic personnel. The center also maintains four houses for staff and a three-person dormitory with kitchen facilities. Food and bedding are not provided.
Staffing at SCREC consists of 12.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees engaged in administration, agricultural field and physical plant operation; three departmental FTE employees; and a variable number of general assistance and purchased seasonal labor.