New pomologist positions University of Idaho for cutting-edge fruit production and management research

Jonathan Clavijo-Herrera was among the first scientists in Florida to successfully establish a high-density peach orchard, using trellises to train tree branches to grow on fruiting walls, which reduces labor while increasing yields.

Now Clavijo is poised to help University of Idaho blaze trails with its fruit-production research.

On March 2, 2026, Clavijo joined the U of I’s Parma Research and Extension Center as an assistant professor and Extension specialist in pomology. In his new role, Clavijo will conduct research benefiting Idaho’s fruit industry, with an emphasis on apples, cherries and peaches.

Clavijo was attracted to the job by the potential of the fruit industry in Idaho, the opportunity to research new types of fruit, the high quality of the laboratory facilities at Parma and the ample orchard space.

“I feel there’s a lot of support from the Parma station team,” Clavijo said. “I feel like there are a lot of opportunities here. There’s a lot of work to be done for sure in the orchard and the lab and everything, but I’m really encouraged by the support I’m receiving from the university, and the willingness of the growers to partner and collaborate is amazing.”

Originally from La Paz, Bolivia, Clavijo earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences and production from Zamorano University in Honduras. He continued his education at University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, where he earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in horticultural sciences. Early on in his graduate studies, Clavijo completed an internship involving the use of LED lighting for the indoor production of leafy greens. He researched how to improve commercial production and water use efficiency in greens by manipulating the light spectrum.

As a master’s student, Clavijo studied the potential for a Florida olive industry.

“We evaluated three olive varieties in two locations to see how they would perform,” Clavijo said. “We also tested different strategies to establish those trees.”

Furthermore, Clavijo helped develop a tool to help olive farmers adjust their fertilization management practices under local growing conditions.

His doctoral dissertation entailed researching how a rootstock — the underground part of a plant onto which another variety is grafted — can affect the performance of the above-ground portion of a tree, known as the scion. He and his research team found that certain rootstocks improved the capacity of trees to uptake water and nutrients. The team also found that rootstocks can affect the expression of genes related to dormancy, which enables a tree to withstand winter temperatures while conserving energy for the growing season.

Following graduate school, Clavijo worked as a postdoctoral researcher at UF, establishing one of the state’s first high-density, trellised peach orchards in 2023. Using trellises and fruiting walls reduced damage, improved air circulation and light penetration and enabled the orchard to mechanize certain management practices, such as pruning. The orchard had its first harvest in 2025.

“We saw that our yield per acre was higher under that system,” Clavijo said. “The results were very encouraging.”

On his second day on the job in Parma, Clavijo met with several area fruit farmers to gather their input on research priorities. He’s also visited some of their orchards. He’s been impressed by their work.

“It’s been great to see their willingness to partner with the program and move things forward,” Clavijo said. “I want my program to be a resource for the growers and a resource for the community.”

Clavijo anticipates starting trials soon aimed at improving fertilization and water-management practices. He also plans to study pest management and methods for preventing winter damage to trees.

Long-term research goals include investigating high-density peach production in Parma and evaluating rootstocks and scions from other areas under Idaho conditions.

He also envisions conducting research into using high tunnels as tree covers to reduce damage to fruit trees.

Though Idaho has a relatively small fruit industry, Clavijo believes the state distinguishes itself through its exceptional quality.

“I see that as our potential — working with quality and trying to create awareness of the quality of our fruit,” Clavijo said. “Maybe we don’t produce a large volume, but if we can consistently deliver high-quality fruit, that can be our way to position ourselves in the market.”