Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
1/28/99
Contacts:
Deb Smith, Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association,
(515) 465-5992
Kathleen Delate, Iowa State University Extension
Horticulture, (515) 294-7069
Treva Blumenshine, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5672
Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Annual Conference and Organic Workshop set for Feb. 11-12
AMES, Iowa -- The "Growing Organic Fruits and Vegetables" workshop will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The all-day workshop is part of the annual conference and trade show of the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (IFVGA), "Growing for Greater Profits." A second all-day session is scheduled for Feb. 12. Both the workshop and conference are open to the public. Registration is recommended.
The workshop and conference are presented by the IFVGA and Iowa State University Extension. The workshop is supported by grants from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Training Center.
"This is a first-of-its-kind workshop specifically focused on organic fruit and vegetable growing and marketing in Iowa. Growers, consumers, chefs, processors and many others will find useful information about the rapidly expanding opportunities in organics," said Kathleen Delate, ISU Extension organic specialist.
The keynote speaker for the organic session is George Bird, from Michigan State University, whose current research focuses on equitable and sustainable food and farming systems. Other presentations include "Growing Organic Produce for the Restaurant Market," "Marketing Organics on the Internet," Growing Organic Flowers, Herbs and Produce in a Value-added Farm Business" and "Growing Organic Herbs."
The second all-day session, Feb. 12, starts with keynote speaker, Rich Snyder, Mississippi State University vegetable specialist. Other topics include a Midwest weather forecast by Elwynn Taylor, ISU Extension; a presentation on marketing produce to hospitals and other institutions, by Larry Jacobsen, Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo, Iowa; and grower and marketing panels and concurrent breakout sessions on fruit and vegetable production.
The trade show is open from noon to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, and from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, ending with door prize drawings of products donated by the trade show vendors. For more information and registration, contact Deb Smith, Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association at (515) 465-5992.
ml: imajor, isufarm
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