By Clint Thompson
Registration is ongoing for the upcoming Florida Tomato Conference scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the LaBelle Civic Center in LaBelle, Florida.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Hendry County Extension Director Craig Frey highlighted what growers and industry specialists can expect at this year’s event.
“Our goal is to make it useful for the industry and the growers and keep things relevant. The last couple of years I’ve taken a lead on it, and I always include growers in selecting the presentations that we get from faculty and industry,” Frey said. “We did recently get some insight from growers on things that they’re hoping for. Some of those things I know we can address directly with work that faculty is doing.”
Registration is free for employees of Florida tomato growers/packers, sponsors, presenters and university personnel. The cost for other attendees is $50. Participants may register for one or both sessions. Registration information and program agendas will be made available soon.
Lunch will be provided by the sponsors and catered by the Hendry County Cattlemen’s Association.
Florida producers are on the cusp of another season. Frey said South Florida growers will begin preparing land in August with tomatoes being planted in September. Central Florida farmers will start about a month prior to that.
For more information, contact Craig Frey, Hendry County Extension Director, at 863-674-4092 or by email at craigfrey@ufl.edu.