December 2019 - 24

WINTER EVENTS
SE Regional Fruit and
Vegetable Conference,
Jan. 9-12
The Southeast Regional Fruit and
Vegetable Conference returns to
Savannah, Georgia, Jan.9-12, 2020.
In 2019, the educational event and
trade show hosted more than 3,300
attendees and 290 vendor companies.
" This conference has become the
'premier fruit and vegetable event'
in the Southeast for growers to
come and learn, network with
other growers and find the
latest in production practices,
equipment, seed varieties, and
pest management to make their
operations more profitable, "
said Georgia Fruit and Vegetable
Growers Association (GFVGA)
Executive Director Charles Hall.
" We invite those in the business
and those wanting to know more
about the business of producing
fruits and vegetables to come to
SE Regional. "
Sponsored by GFVGA and the
Georgia Peach Council (GPC) the
conference will be held at the
Savannah International Trade and
Convention Center. The event
features three days of educational
workshops and seminars, a twoday
trade show and several other
evening networking opportunities.
During the three-day educational
program, 70-plus hours of
concurrent, commodity specific
seminars will be held, with topics
spanning from pest management to
marketing and business operations.
Commodity conferences include
peach, vegetable, Vidalia onion,
watermelon, muscadine, blueberry,
strawberry, blackberry, and
raspberry. There are also sessions
on business operations, food
safety, roadside markets, organic
production and new this year -
precision agriculture technology.
" There are a number of new
topics and speakers for the 2020
conference, " said Beth Oleson,
director of education and food
safety for GFVGA. " We are hosting
a blueberry mechanical harvester
in-service training, co-locating with
the North American Raspberry &
Blackberry Association (NARBA)
Annual Conference, facilitating a
mini labor forum, and adding the
Precision Ag Technology Conference
to cover all the new technology,
robotics and mechanization going
on in the industry. "
Oleson said these will be
valuable additions to the
current educational offerings
and expects high participation.
The 2020 trade show will offer
a varied assembly of produce
industry vendors and suppliers.
Hailed as one of the most
valuable networking events of
the year, the SE Regional trade
24 | FruitGrowersNews.com
show provides attendees with
the opportunity to compare
products, talk with industry
representatives, observe
demonstrations, network with
other growers and learn about
the latest in fresh produce
technology.
Other special events during
the conference help facilitate
networking and personal
connections. These include a Friday
night reception and live auction
on the trade show floor, an awards
program on Saturday morning
and an Industry Round Table on
Sunday to close the conference.
The round table session serves as
a forum for discussion for growers
and suppliers to talk about
issues affecting the industry. This
discussion helps align both the
GPC and the GFVGA leadership
boards with priorities that shape
their program of work for the
upcoming year.
For more information on hotels,
educational sessions or to register
for the 2019 SE Regional Fruit and
Vegetable Conference, visit www.
seregionalconference.org or call
877-994-3842. Take advantage of
early bird discounts by registering
before Dec. 9, 2019.
GFVGA is a trade association
representing farmers producing
fruits and vegetables in the
southeastern United States. The
organization provides a viable
and united voice to represent
the industry. Through support
for educational programs,
agricultural research, member
services and marketing activities
GFVGA encourages efficient, cost
effective production for growers
and increased consumption by
consumers. GFVGA is managed
by Association Services Group,
a professional management
firm with offices in LaGrange,
Georgia, and is accredited by
the Association Management
Company Institute.
The GPC is an association of
growers, packers, researchers,
allied industry, and produce buyers
who seek to protect and advance
the production and marketing of
peaches in Georgia.
Illinois Specialty Crops
Conference, Jan. 8-10
The Illinois Specialty Crop
Conference will be held Jan. 8-10,
2020, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Springfield. The conference, which
features nearly 100 speakers and
60 trade show exhibitors, will again
host five concurrent preconference
workshops, general sessions and
breakout sessions aimed at helping
Illinois specialty growers cultivate
their operations.
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, participants
may attend one of the preconference
workshops, including:
Pumpkin Production, Cut Flowers,
Protected Culture and Hemp.
A special opportunity for farmers
is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8,
begins at 8 a.m. as the University of
Illinois Extension will conduct a full
Produce Safety Training Workshop.
This workshop will satisfy the
Food Safety Modernization Act
Produce Safety Rule requirement
stating, " At least one supervisor
or responsible party for your farm
must have successfully completed
food safety training at least
equivalent to that received under
standardized curriculum recognized
as adequate by the Food and Drug
Administration. " All qualifying
fruit and vegetable growers must
be in compliance by Jan. 26, 2020.
Workshop participants will receive
the manual and certificate for only
$50. This is a $70 saving. Deadline for
registration for this event is Dec. 20.
On Thursday, Jan. 9, the
convention's keynote speaker,
Janice Person, CEO & founder of
JPlovesCOTTON, LLC will discuss
storytelling and why the impacts
are so significant and something
that more farms should consider
working into their marketing and
advocacy efforts. Janice Person
became known as JPlovesCOTTON
for her tweets and blogging about
her favorite fiber over the past
decade. However, it is her role as
a leading voice and advocate for
connecting farmers and the public
that really sets her apart.
Participants also are invited
to attend breakout sessions on
Thursday, Jan. 9 and Friday, Jan. 10
featuring:
* Fruits.
* Vegetables.
* Herbs.
* Beginning Farmer.
* Agritourism.
* Business Development.
* Of Special Interest.
The 31st annual Apple Cider
Contest and 18th annual Hard
Cider Contest will again be held in
conjunction with the conference,
with winners being announced
during Thursday evening's banquet.
To receive registration materials
or to obtain exhibitor information,
please contact Charlene Blary at
309-557-2107 or cblary@ilfb.org.
A detailed conference agenda,
registration and cider contest
information can be viewed at
www.specialtygrowers.org.
A block of rooms has been
reserved at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
at a rate of $103 per night. Please
call the hotel directly at 217529-7777
and ask for the Illinois
Specialty Crop Conference room
block to make reservations at the
conference rate.
Ohio Produce Network,
Jan. 21-23
The Ohio Produce Network is
going to be taking place Jan. 2123,
2020, at the Columbus Airport
Marriott, 1375 N. Cassady Ave.,
Columbus, Ohio 43219. Room rates
are $118 and will be released on
Jan. 10, 2020. Call 1-800-491-5717 to
make a reservation for this event.
Formerly known as the OPGMA
Congress, the Ohio Produce
Network regularly engages in
formal educational programs and
importance of the viability of your
business and for skill enhancement
for agricultural owners, managers
and other employees. Programs
often cover production techniques,
disease/pest mitigation,
management, marketing and
retailing strategies, food safety and
emerging technologies.
OPGMA's educational programs
are respected, and are affordable
and accessible for the entire fresh
produce industry. Events and other
programs are open to the entire
industry and fees are discounted for
our members.
The Ohio Produce Network
is the annual gathering for the
fresh produce industry, including
markets, in Ohio. The two-day event
includes numerous educational
programs, a trade show and ample
opportunities to network with your
peers. It's hosted in a family-friendly
destination.
Empire State Producers
Expo, Jan. 14-16
The 2020 Empire State Producers
Expo will be held Jan. 14-16 at the
Oncenter, 515 Montgomery St.,
Syracuse, New York.
This annual show combines
major fruit, flower, and vegetable
associations of New York.
Over 45 educational sessions
will cover commodity specific
programs and multidisciplinary
production. Sessions will feature
presentations from regional and
national experts.
The Becker Forum will precede
the Expo on Jan. 13 at the Marriott
Syracuse Downtown, 100 E.
Onondaga St., Syracuse, New York.
The New York State Vegetable
Growers Association sponsors The
Empire State Fruit and Vegetable
Expo with Cornell Cooperative
Extension, The NYS Horticultural
Society, The NYS Berry Growers
Association and The Empire State
Potato Growers Club. The Expo is
held the second week of February
and is a premier educational
event that features current and
beneficial information for growers
of processing, fresh market and
storage vegetables, as well as tree
http://www.seregionalconference.org http://www.specialtygrowers.org http://www.FruitGrowersNews.com
December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2019
