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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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Media Advisory: Ohio State Cancer Researcher to Speak at Berry Tour

July 26, 2002

URBANA, Ohio - An Ohio State University cancer researcher, who is receiving national attention for his work on cancer prevention through berry consumption, will be on hand at an Ohio State-sponsored berry tour to discuss his research and the important role agricultural production plays in human health.

Gary Stoner, head of the Laboratory of Cancer Chemoprevention and Etiology at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, will speak at 2:15 p.m. on July 30 at M&M Berry Farm. The farm is located at 345 North Mutual Union Road in Cable, Ohio, five miles east of Urbana off U.S. Rt. 36.

Stoner will be summarizing animal research that has shown that certain types of berries, namely raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, can reduce the incidence of esophageal and colon cancers up to 80 percent in rats. He will also discuss the next step in his cancer research: testing whether a berry-rich diet can produce the same health benefits in humans.

Also to be discussed will be how agricultural practices can enhance a product's health benefits.. Don McFeeters, director of Ohio State's South Centers at Piketon, will be on hand to lend to the discussion. Much of the production research surrounding berries is conducted at the Piketon, Ohio, facility.

Stoner's work has been gaining popularity in Ohio and is receiving national attention. A proposal by U.S. Rep. David Hobson, R-Springfield, to place $400,000 in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's budget to support Stoner's work has recently been approved by the House of Appropriations Committee. Stoner is waiting for approval from the House of Representatives for the federal money.

The Ohio State-sponsored berry tour is designed to educate new and existing berry producers on the techniques of successfully producing and marketing berries. M&M Berry Farm is currently being expanded from a five-acre to a 20-acre red and black raspberry farm. The crop is sold mainly through a pick-your-own operation.

The tour, which will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., is free and open to the public.

For more information regarding Stoner's presentation or the berry tour, contact Ohio State berry coordinator Sandy Kuhn at (740) 289-2071 or kuhn.37@osu.edu.

Author(s): 
Candace Pollock
Source(s): 
Sandy Kuhn