TIFTON —
The 2013 SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference, held annually in Savannah, continued its streak of attendance increase this year with more than 2,900 growers, exhibitors, educators and legislators coming to the show.
More than 100 growers, agri-businessmen and women and university personnel from Tifton attended the SE Regional conference this year — that is less than five percent of the overall attendance but the largest showing of any other city in Georgia. About 10 percent of Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association members come from the Tifton/Tift County area.
According to Charles Hall, executive director of Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, this year’s attendance was a 10 percent increase in growth from the 2,670 growers, educators and legislators who attended in 2012. The conference had 583 attendees in 1999 when it first started.
“This was one of our best conferences yet. The quality of the vendors at the trade show, combined with the excellent educational sessions, makes this an event that cannot be missed,” said Dick Minor, outgoing GFVGA president. “This year we added highly successful sessions on ObamaCare, financing for the on-farm operations and value added programs, and a Food Safety Recall workshop.”
The four-day event, sponsored by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the South Carolina Peach Council, offered over 90 hours of commodity specific production training, pest management information and marketing updates. Commodities included peach, vegetable, Vidalia onion, watermelon, muscadine, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and pecan. Continuing education credits were available.
The 2013 SE Regional Trade Show was sold out and featured over 200 vendors across a tradeshow floor of more than 250 booths, providing attendees with the opportunity to compare products, talk with industry representatives, observe demonstrations, network with other growers and learn about the latest in fresh produce technology.
The next SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is scheduled for Jan. 9-12, 2014 in Savannah.
For more information, contact Samantha Tankersley at 706-845-8200 or stankersley@asginfo.net.
Local News
SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference attendance continues to rise
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