Jan 10, 2022

Live, virtual set for CFVGA annual conference Feb. 28-March 1

The Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) will hold its eighth annual conference Feb. 28-March 1, both in-person at the Denver Renaissance Central Park Hotel and online.

“While we are glad to be meeting in person this year, we were surprised at the positive response last year from our virtual conference attendees, some of whom would not have been able to attend a live event,” said CFVGA Conference Committee Chair and Founding Board Member Adrian Card. “The committee made the decision last spring to offer an event that is fully in-person and also available online. Funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture is allowing us to livestream all conference sessions through a virtual event website as well as to provide networking opportunities between on-site and virtual attendees.”

The conference will open with a panel on Colorado Senate Bill 21-087, which passed and was signed into law last spring and summer. Following remarks from panelists, the audience will be able to ask questions.

“Growers will have the opportunity to learn how this bill became law and how CFVGA impacted the final legislation,” said CFVGA President Bruce Talbott, Talbott’s Mountain Gold, Palisade. “Panelists from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment will unpack the many provisions of this bill to help growers better understand how to comply with the new regulations.”

Conference attendees will be able to choose from a variety of educational sessions, including the latest in research and production practices, branding & marketing Colorado produce, protecting farmworkers from injury and heat illness, GAP audit success strategies, labor solutions, production technology and food safety practices. Participants will be able to watch all conference sessions at no additional charge for months after the event on CFVGA’s conference website.

The conference also will feature a full slate of on-site and virtual exhibitors, the grower-buyer networking session, CFVGA annual meeting and time for participants to network and socialize. Tuesday’s award luncheon will culminate with presentation of the 2021 CFVGA Robert Sakata Member of the Year Award.

View the CFVGA conference promotional website and register here: https://pheedloop.com/CFVGA22/site/  For general questions as well as more information on exhibiting and sponsorship, contact CFVGA at 303.594.3827 or [email protected]<

The CFVGA is comprised of more than 250 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $485 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 90,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.