The New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference will be held December 15, 16, 17 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH and will include 30 educational sessions over 3 days, covering major vegetable, berry and tree fruit crops as well as various special topics. Farmer to Farmer meetings after each morning and afternoon session will bring speakers and farmers together for informal, in-depth discussions on certain issues. There is also an extensive Trade Show with over 100 exhibitors.
The 3-day educational program offers 4 to 5 concurrent sessions each morning and afternoon. Tuesday, December 15 features sessions on year-round growing and marketing, pumpkins, strawberries, crunching numbers, minor crops, tunnel innovations, tree fruit, pepper and eggplant, and new farmers. On Wednesday, December 16 sessions are on tree fruit, blueberries, soil health, sweet corn, organic pest management, deep zone tillage, lettuce and greens, and efficiency on the farm. The sessions on Thursday, December 17 are on tomato, greenhouse tomato, brambles, vine crops, viticulture, brassicas, marketing, irrigation, and crop nutrient content.
This conference is put together with close collaboration between growers and Extension from across the region. The steering committee gathers the best speakers from within our region and across the country to let you know about the latest innovations and advances in the fruit and vegetable industry. The educational sessions over three days will mix the best theory and practice regarding major fruit, berry and vegetable crops. Virtually every session will include the perspective of farmers, Extension staff and researchers.
We hope that you will enjoy your time here, and meet with fellow growers, advisors, researchers, and industry representatives. We want you to leave with new ideas and new information that will have a positive impact on your farm.
The pre-registration fee to attend any part or all of the conference or trade show is $90 for the first member of the farm or business and $60 for each additional member (family or employee) when pre-registered with first member. The pre-registration fee for students (high school or college) is $40 each when pre-registered by the instructor. Pre-registration must be received by November 30, 2009. There is an additional fee of $10 per person for late registration or walk-ins. You can download a full conference program, with registration form, by clicking here.
Sponsored by the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers Association, the Massachusetts Fruit Grower’s Association, the Universities of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine, as well Cornell University and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Additional information on the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, including downloadable registration material, and on-line pre-registration may be found at http://www.newenglandvfc.org
Contact: Jude Boucher (860) 875-3331; jude.boucher@uconn.edu
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