Oct 19, 2018

Dates set for 2019 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention

The 2019 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention will be held from Jan. 29-31, 2019 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Over 2,400 fruit, vegetable, and berry growers and other industry persons from throughout the mid-Atlantic region and beyond are expected to attend. This year’s convention will again feature several pre-convention workshops, a farm market bus tour, and a trade show with over 170 exhibitors plus three full days of seven or more concurrent educational sessions. The Young Grower Alliance will again host a pre-convention workshop, and the topic is Pros and Cons of Thinning Apples Early. A session for Spanish speakers is held on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

The Mid-Atlantic Convention has been jointly sponsored by the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, the Maryland State Horticultural Society and the New Jersey State Horticultural Society for the past 40 years making this year’s Convention the 42nd meeting. In 2014, the Virginia State Horticultural Society also began meeting at the Convention. The Pennsylvania State University, University of Maryland, Rutgers University Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech University all assist in organizing the three days of educational sessions.

Many pesticide applicator update training credits are available to growers attending the sessions. The program covers nearly every aspect of fruit, vegetable, potato, strawberry, bramble, cut flower, greenhouse and wine grape production. Commercial growers should not pass up this terrific educational opportunity. On January 29, the annual Fruit and Vegetable Growers Reception and Banquet will be held. The Banquet will include awards and recognitions after a delicious buffet dinner. Tickets are required for the Banquet. On January 30, there will be a reception for apple growers at 5:00 p.m. and the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association will host its annual Ice Cream Social for all Convention attendees at 7:00 p.m.

Registration for the 2019 Convention will open in November 2018. Persons registered for either the fruit, vegetable or berry programs can attend all the sessions offered (fruit, vegetable, berry, and flower sessions) plus the trade show. Registration is either through the mail or at the door and is required to attend both the trade show and educational sessions. For further information, go to www.mafvc.org or call 717-677-4184 or 717-694-3596.

Photo: Snow on Pink Lady. Photo: Ed Weaver/Weaver’s Orchard