December 2019 - 30

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 ag 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 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
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 SCPC 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 877994-3842.
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 Georgia Peach Council 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.
30 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
http://www.seregionalconference.org http://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com
December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2019
