GENEVA, N.Y. -- To officially introduce six new varieties of fruits and vegetables developed by Cornell plant breeders, the university will hold a press conference Tuesday, Feb. 10, from noon to 1 p.m., at the New York State Vegetable Conference and New York State Berry Growers Meeting in the Salina Room of the Four Points ITT/Sheraton in Liverpool. The hotel is located at New York State Thruway Exit 37, at 7th North St. and Electronics Parkway, and the phone number is (315) 457-1122.

The six new varieties of fruits and vegetables are an improvement over existing varieties, either in their degree of disease resistance (which reduces pesticide use), their quality and/or their adaptability to New York's growing conditions.

The varieties are:

• "Prelude" and "Encore" red raspberries, which are bred to extend the growing season;
• "Whitaker" summer squash, which is a self-pollinating variety, resistant to three viruses and a fungus;
• "Onondaga" lettuce, which is an Ithaca-type, head lettuce resistant to two diseases; and
• "Salem" and "Reba" potatoes, specifically bred for the New York potato chip market and table stock.

Participants in the Cornell press conference will include John Sanford, associate professor of horticultural science (raspberries); Kevin Maloney, research support specialist (raspberries); Richard Robinson, professor of horticultural science (squash and lettuce); Joseph W. Shail, research support specialist (squash and lettuce); and Robert L. Plaisted, professor emeritus of plant breeding (potatoes).

Daryl B. Lund, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and James E. Hunter, director of Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, where four of the six varieties were developed, will introduce the scientists.

Industry representatives will comment on the new varieties. They include John Meyer, president of the Empire State Potato Club; Larry Eckhardt, president of the New York State Vegetable Association; and Skip Jackson, vice chairman of the New York State Berry Association.

The vegetable industry in New York contributed over $222 million to the economy of New York state in 1996, including $111 million from fresh market vegetables, $44.5 million from processing vegetables, $55 million from potatoes and $12.3 million from berries.

The New York State Vegetable Conference runs from Feb. 10 through 12. Educational sessions and a trade show are included in the conference. Press packets on the new varieties will be available at the press conference.