By Clint Thompson
The 2024 edition of the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is in the books. Thousands attended the annual event in Savannah, Georgia. How to keep specialty crops sustainable was the underlying theme behind presentations given by university, Extension and legislative personnel.
The three-day conference and tradeshow was dubbed a success, believes Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA).
“We may be in different geographic areas but we share the same challenges, and there is certainly value; all the sessions that are talking about new technologies and new trends. There’s a huge value in being able to come and network with your colleagues. They may be in a different state but grow something similar to you and have a similar problem,” Butts said.
“Attendance was up pretty strong, and I think that’s indicative of the fact these guys are facing challenges and realize they can come here and access those resources to learn how to be more efficient and have a better bottom line.”
Butts said the attendance numbers approached 3,500. The GFVGA has a straightforward goal for all who attended Southeast Regional.
“Our goal is to give them information that they didn’t have before they came. They can take back to their farm and help them to have a more profitable and more efficient and more sustainable operation. All of those matter, but truly, the first rule of sustainability is to be here next year. To be here next year we’ve got to make a profit. They’ve got to learn how to do that and do the most with the very least they can.”