By Clint Thompson
Alabama’s specialty crop farmers and industry leaders are meeting in Gulf Shores, Alabama, this week to celebrate the state’s fruit and vegetable crops while learning how to remain sustainable for the future.
The Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) is holding its annual conference and trade show on Feb. 5-7 with nearly 300 in attendance. Blake Thaxton, executive director of the AFVGA, discussed the meeting’s importance.
“This is kind of the culmination of the year. A lot of our farmers look forward to coming down here every year. Our vendors look forward to coming down here every year. It’s just an exciting time where old friends and new friends can get together, network, talk about the latest research with our speakers, learn about best business practices and also improve our marketing,” Thaxton said. “We’re always excited to get down here to Gulf Shores. We’ve got beautiful weather, great food and great company.”
Educational Sessions
University researchers and local farmers are providing valuable insights into the state’s fruit and vegetable industries during educational sessions on both days.
“When the committee meets and talks about the sessions and what education topics we’re going to hit on every year, I think one thing that is a consistent theme is the latest technologies and latest research. Of course, we always have a lot of researchers come in and can share the latest and greatest of whatever production it is, but we also wanted to really focus on marketing this year,” Thaxton said.
Marketing was an important theme of Thursday’s panel discussion with Georgia farmer Bill Brim (Lewis Taylor Farms); Alabama farmer Taylor Hatchett (Boozer Farms); and Mitt Walker (Alabama Farmers Federation. It is an important business practice that will help Alabama specialty crop producers grow the industry.
The conference also held a Farm Market Speed Dating workshop that allowed producers time to give their “elevator speech” on their specific commodities and build business relationships into the future.