Fruit growing conference announced by North American Fruit Explorers
The virtual event will be held Nov. 15-20, 2021, online via Zoom. It includes 24 speakers in 12 sessions over six days.
“This year we’re planning an exciting series of interactive sessions with some of North America’s leading fruit growers, explorers and preservationists including seminars and exciting keynotes,” Kris Klueg Heeter, associate scientist of biology at Indiana University and NAFEX president, said in a news release.
Conference topics include: organic orcharding, getting started in fruit growing, permaculture orchards for changing climates, agroforestry, plum breeding, pear growing, peaches grown by Southwestern Native Americans, growing pawpaw and persimmon fruits, fruit foraging, and heirloom apple preservation.
“While Apple Trees have been in the news lately from newly re-discovered ‘lost varieties,’ this conference will continue to focus on the NAFEX mission to support small farmers, orchardists and hobbyists who seek to be sustainable self-sufficient producers of a wide variety of fruits for the good of all,” said Klueg Heeter.
The 2021 NAFEX conference will include 12 online sessions on topics ranging from getting started in fruit growing and foraging for wild fruit to fruit breeding and genetics. Some of the other 24 conference speakers include Reagan Wystalucy, Extension Assistant Professor with Utah State University, on rediscovering peaches in Navajo and other First Nations foodways; Rachel Spaeth, Garden Curator at the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, on the legacy of Burbank’s eminent plum breeding program; and Dan Bussey, author of the definitive seven-volume, “Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada,” (2016).
Conference Schedule
| SESSION 1 Noon Pacific / 3pm Eastern | SESSION 2 4:30pm Pacific / 7:30pm Eastern | |
| MON 11/15 | Getting Started in Fruit Growing: Tips from the Field Speakers: Susan Poizner, Orchard People Larry Stephenson, Southern Cultured Orchards & Nursery Sam Hubert, One Green World Nursery Facilitator: Eric Bina |
Preserving Our Heirloom Apple Heritage Speakers: Tom Brown, Heritage Apples Joanie Cooper, Temperate Orchard Conservancy Harry Burton, Apple Luscious Organic Orchard Facilitator: Leslie Wade |
| TUES 11/16 | Permaculture Orchards for Changing Climates Speakers: Jacques Neukom, Neukom Family Farms Keith Johnson, HeartBeet Farm and Permaculture Center Andrew Millison, Oregon State University Facilitator: Kris Klueg Heeter |
Exploring Peaches Grown by Southwestern Native Americans Speaker: Reagan Wytsalucy, Assistant Professor, Utah State University Extension Facilitator: Leslie Wade |
| WED 11/17 | All About NAFEX + 2021 Annual Meeting Learn about NAFEX, its history and stories from longtime members Business agenda: Board elections, new business, bylaws update and other new business. Facilitator: Kris Klueg Heeter |
Agroforestry: An Alternative Agriculture Speakers: Erik Hagan, Savanna Institute Zach Elfers, Nomad Seed Project Max Paschall, Shelterwood Forest Farm Facilitator: Taylor Malone |
| THUR 11/18 | The Plum Detective: Decoding Burbank’s Plums and Hybrids Speaker: Rachel Spaeth, Garden Curator, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Facilitator: Kris Klueg Heeter |
Happy Hour: Member Show and Tell Join us for an interactive session to share tips, innovations, creations, successes and failures in your orchard or fruit farm. Adult beverages optional. Facilitator: Kris Klueg Heeter |
| FRI 11/19 | Pears for Your Heirs: Disease Resistance, Wild Fruits & Cultivars Speakers: Nahla Bassil, USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository Joseph Postman, USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository (retired) Marcus Toole, Home Orchardist, Georgia Facilitator: Eric Bina |
Journeys in Wild and Cultivated Orchards Speakers: Matt Kaminsky, Gnarly Pippins Sean Williams, Heirloom Fruit Preservationist Dan Bussey, Author, The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada Facilitator: Chris Homanics |
| SAT 11/20 | Heroes of Pawpaw & Persimmon Breeding, Past and Present Speakers: Darren Bender-Beauregard, Brambleberry Farm Buzz Ferver, Perfect Circle Farm Joe Pizzo, White Lion Farms Foundation Facilitator: Chris Homanics |
Keynote Address: The Holistic Orchard Speaker: Michael Phillips, Lost Nation Orchard, Author of The Holistic Orchard, The Apple Grower, and Mycorrhizal Planet Facilitator: Kris Klueg Heeter |