“The very fact that we’re growing blueberries at all is because of UF/IFAS. If we didn’t have those varieties, we wouldn’t be growing blueberries commercially. The breeding program is really what turned blueberries into an important crop for Florida.” – Dr. Jeffrey Williamson, Professor at the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.
One of the first blueberry field days was held in the early 90s. A small group of growers gathered around research plots near Gainesville, joined by a handful of nursery representatives displaying plants on a table. Counting all the presenters and others in attendance, there were barely a dozen people, Dr. Williamson, then an Assistant Professor in the Fruit Crops Department, one of them.
For almost four decades at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Williamson has guided the growth of Florida’s blueberry industry through practical research, Extension, and mentorship alongside prolific breeder Dr. Paul Lyrene, after whom the blueberry research building is now named after. As of 2026, the UF/IFAS blueberry program’s influence is vast and has built up an entire industry for the state of Florida in a matter of a few decades. Blueberry gatherings today draw hundreds of growers, researchers, and industry representatives not only from across the Southeast but also from around the world.
“I’ve been able to watch it grow from almost nothing to a pretty big industry. That’s been rewarding, to be part of it,” reflects Williamson.
While blueberry breeders developed varieties uniquely adapted to Florida’s climate, Williamson focused on helping growers produce those berries more efficiently, more sustainably, and more profitably. Williamson points to breeders like Ralph Sharpe, who created the first low-chill southern highbush blueberry, as well as Dr. Paul Lyrene, who commercialized and expanded that vision, and Dr. Patricio Muñoz, an Associate Professor and Horticulture Crop Breeding Endowed Chair currently carrying the breeding program forward.
In 2024, Williamson was inducted into the Florida Blueberry Hall of Fame. During the announcement, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association remarked that “For more than three decades, Dr. Jeffrey Williamson has been a trusted educator, researcher, mentor, and advocate for Florida blueberry growers… His impact will be felt for generations to come.”
This recognition came from Williamson’s impact beyond the research plot. Through Extension publications, over 85 grower meetings, field days, industry newsletters and magazines, and trainings for county Extension agents, he helped translate research into practical solutions for growers. One of his most significant research efforts focused on the future of blueberries: advancing machine harvesting to improve efficiency and reduce labor demands.
Yet, blueberries were not initially part of his plan.
Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, Williamson’s interest in horticulture began in high school after a biology class introduced students to the subject. At the same time, he was running a small lawn care business, where customers often asked questions about pruning, plant health, and landscape care. “I thought it’d be nice to know more about what I’m doing,” he said.
That led him to Auburn University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture before completing his doctorate at Clemson University.
When he joined UF in 1987, he was hired to work as a citrus Extension specialist, but “I didn’t know anything about citrus,” Williamson said with a laugh. “The thinking was, ‘You’ll learn the crop.'”
Several years later, as Florida’s citrus industry continued moving south following damaging freezes, Williamson decided to remain in Gainesville. With opportunities to teach and mentor students and the collaborative atmosphere on campus, Williamson shifted his focus to blueberries and stone fruit, eventually focusing on blueberries, where he has stayed for the remainder of his career.
At this time, Florida’s commercial blueberry industry was still emerging, and even within UF, the research team consisted of Drs. Williamson and Lyrene as the department’s only dedicated faculty to the berry.
“As the industry grew, it attracted more attention,” Williamson said. “We got support in plant pathology, entomology, economics and agricultural engineering.” That research still spans many disciplines at UF and reflects the decades of investment in now one of Florida’s most valuable crops. Still, Williamson was quick to credit breeders as those who made it possible for that growth. While breeders created the varieties, Williamson dedicated his research program to helping growers succeed with them. His work focused on solving immediate challenges growers encountered in the field, from irrigation and fertilization to machine harvesting and production practices.
“Usually, I was doing research in response to a problem,” Williamson said. “Let’s put out this fire.”
A more proactive approach led Williamson to investigate the use of alternative rootstocks for blueberries, exploring whether stronger, more resilient root systems could improve drought tolerance while reducing production costs. The research built on a large, multi-institutional project initiated by Dr. Rebecca Darnell, now Horticultural Sciences Professor Emeritus. Although he describes the work as a long-term effort which lacks “immediate commercial application”, he believes it has the potential to reshape how blueberries are grown in the future.
“If we can find a root system that’s more resilient and doesn’t require all the special conditions blueberries need today, it could reduce production costs and improve drought tolerance,” he said. “It’s a long-term project, but it has the potential for significant impact.”
Outside of research and extension, Williamson has also contributed to the third pillar of the IFAS ethos, teaching.
He advised graduate students, taught undergraduate courses, and mentored the next generation of horticultural scientists. Asked what advice he would offer young researchers beginning their careers, his answer reflects the same collaborative philosophy that guided his own work.
“Develop collaborations with other researchers,” Williamson said. “Don’t try to go it alone.”
That philosophy resonated with his students. Valentina Goles, a graduate research assistant in the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department, described Williamson as a mentor who was always willing to share his knowledge while encouraging her growth as a researcher.
“Dr. Williamson was a great advisor who was always available to share his knowledge, provide thoughtful feedback, and support me throughout my research,” Goles said. “He genuinely cared about my progress, making sure my experiments stayed on track and that I had everything I needed to achieve my goals. His mentorship had a meaningful impact on my professional development as a researcher.”
For Hannah Ibiapina de Jesus, a Postdoctoral Research Associate shared that, “working with Dr. Williamson [was] one of the most valuable experiences of my career. One of the things that meant the most to me was how he always made me feel supported and often reminded me that I could count on him, even when that meant joining me for a long, hot day in the field. His integrity, kindness, patience, and genuine passion for science have inspired the kind of scientist and mentor I hope to become.”
Williamson states that, more than any specific technical skill, he hopes his students leave with a commitment to personal integrity. Over the course of advising dozens of graduate students, he shared that protecting their integrity at all costs would serve them in so many different ways throughout their careers.
As he begins retirement, Williamson hopes to remain connected to colleagues and, if the opportunity presents itself, lending his expertise to some aspect of blueberry production. Williamson’s career is one that grew alongside the Florida blueberry industry, from a handful of growers to an internationally recognized program advancing one of the state’s strongest specialty crops.
2
