Maryland

Naveen Kumar Dixit is an Assistant Professor of Horticulture and Extension Specialist at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). He has worked on multiple aspects of plant growth and development including stress physiology, postharvest physiology, plant-pathogen interaction, nutrient management, phosphorus phytoremediation, community horticulture, global climate change, nanotechnology, and fruit production and orchard management. Naveen earned his Ph.D. in plant physiology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, India. He served as a post doctorate research associate in the University of Florida at South West Florida Research and Education Center and later at UF's Citrus Research and Education Center. Naveen established a multi-fruit orchard at UMES for teaching, research, and extension purposes.

Emily Zobel is the Senior Agent Associate for Ag and Food System for University of Maryland Extension (UME) in Dorchester County. She received her M.S. in Entomology from the University of Maryland College Park. Her focus areas are sustainable vegetable production, pesticide safety, farm stress, and integrated pest management. Emily has done international agriculture education in Ghana, Senegal, and the Ukraine. She is the current editor of the Maryland Fruit and Vegetable Newsletter. She is one of the hosts and the editor of the Garden Thyme Podcast.