Conference will take place virtually over four days

FRANKFORT (Nov. 30, 2020) – The 2021 KentuckyFruit and Vegetable Conference, the premier event for statewide producegrowers to interact and learn, is set to take place virtually across fourdays in January, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles hasannounced.

“Each year expertsin Kentucky’s produce community come together to share their knowledge withthe rest of the state,” Quarles said. “Learning from these experts is thebest part of the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference. While the 2021conference may look a bit different, the Kentucky Department of Agricultureis proud to once again be part of this educational experience.”

The KentuckyDepartment of Agriculture (KDA), in cooperation with the Kentucky StateHorticultural Society (KSHS), Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association(KVGA), Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK), Kentucky WineriesAssociation (KWA), Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC), the University ofKentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (UK), Kentucky StateUniversity College of Agriculture, Communities and the Environment (KSU),are joining together to bring this year’s conference to participantsvirtually.

Due to thecoronavirus pandemic, the conference has switched to a virtual format forthe first time. The conference will include a general session, as well assessions on protected agriculture production technologies, organicproduction, vegetable production (beginner and advanced), fruit production(beginner and advanced) and business management. In addition to the fourdays of session, other conference events include a virtual wine and cidertasting and a Farmers’ Market Short Course organized by KDA.

Kentucky specialtycrop growers will present as well as Kentucky Extension specialists andout-of-state speakers including: David Doud, Midwest Apple ImprovementAssociation Board Chairperson, David Doud’s Countryline Orchard, Wabash,Ind; Dr. Dave Lockwood, Extension Fruit Specialist, University ofTennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.; and Dr. Annett Wszelaki, Professor of Horticulture,University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.

Pre-registration isavailable online or by mailing in the meeting registration form by Friday,Dec. 18. After this date, you may continue to register online through thefinal session on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. The conference registration fee is$25 and includes a year’s membership in the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK and fullaccess to the recorded content for a year.

Registeredparticipants will be emailed an invitation to join the conference via Zoomon Jan. 5, 12, 19, and 26. Those wishing to participate who do not havecomputer access may attend at one of the in-person viewing sessions atlocal county Extension offices. A current listing of participating countyextension offices is available on the Conference website.

For registrationquestions call: 859-490-0889 or email: info@kyhortcouncil.org.

The full conferenceprogram, information about pesticide CEUs, and registration instructionsare available on the Conference webpage: https://kyhortcouncil.org/2021-ky-fruit-vegetable-conference