The East Texas Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Conference is a yearly event that addresses the needs of those who are producing fruits and vegetables on a large scale basis. Many of the techniques discussed at the conference can also be scaled down and used by the gardener. The conference, scheduled for February 17, will be held at the Rose Garden Center in Tyler.
This conference is structured with a morning general session and afternoon breakout sessions that focus on fruits, vegetables, and viticulture in more detail.
Topics for the morning session this year are: Incorporating Integrated Pest Management Strategies into Fruit and Vegetable Production; Marketing Fruits and Vegetables on a Larger Scale, Are You Country of Origin Labeling Compliant?; Herbicides Labeled for Use in Fruit and Vegetable Production; and Keeping Yourself Safe While Using Pesticides.
Topics for the afternoon breakout vegetable session are: Windows for Planting Recommended Crops and Varieties; Disease Updates; and Tunnel Houses and Mulching for Early Crop Production.
Topics for the afternoon fruit breakout session are: Orchard Site Selection and Variety Selection; and Blackberry Production.
Topics for the viticulture afternoon breakout session are: Starting a Vineyard; and Disease and Pest Management in East Texas.
Cost for the conference is $20 per person (includes lunch) at the door. Attendees with Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide licenses will receive 4 hours of continuing education credit (1 hour Integrated Pest Management, 1 hour Laws and Regulations, and 2 hours General).
Registration for the event will begin at 8 AM and the conference will adjourn at 3:30 PM. There will also be commercial vendors on hand throughout to provide attendees with updates on the latest products for fruit and vegetable production.
A complete agenda of the event is attached, but for more information please call 903-590-2980. The Rose Garden Center is located at 420 Rose Park Drive in Tyler.
