Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Kentucky Proud members are encouraged to make plans now to attend the 2012 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show, the largest of its kind in the state, Jan. 5-6 in Lexington.

“Every Kentucky Proud member could benefit, especially produce growers,” said Roger Snell, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s farm to retail liaison. “It’s our biggest conference as far as networking, and it has some of the best sessions.”

KDA produce marketing specialist Adam Watson said Kentucky growers will have an opportunity to meet produce buyers, wholesalers, and suppliers, and learn tips from professionals from the KDA, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, and other state agencies and universities.

“If you want to make connections in the produce world in Kentucky, it’s the best ‘one-stop shop’ we have,” Watson said.

Embassy Suites Hotel, 1801 Newtown Pike, will host the conference, which will include gatherings of six state horticulture-related organizations. The great-granddaddy of them all, the Kentucky State Horticulture Society, will meet for the 156th time. Other gatherings include the 41st Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association annual meeting, the sixth Kentucky Farmers’ Market Association annual meeting, the third Organic Association of Kentucky annual meeting, and the Kentucky Vineyard Society’s annual meeting. The Kentucky Wine Association also will meet.

Two pre-conference sessions are scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 4 – a winemaking techniques workshop and a fruit roundtable discussion.

Session topics on Thursday, Jan. 5 include winemaking, farmers’ markets, agritourism and social media, vegetable production, tree fruit, and blueberry production. From 5-6 p.m., there will be a Celebration of Kentucky wines in which attendees may taste the homegrown vino from 11 wineries from across the Commonwealth.

Session topics on Friday, Jan. 6 include organic farming and gardening, vegetable production, the Grape and Wine Short Course, tree fruit, blueberry production, small fruit production, marketing, hydroponic tomato production, and wholesale marketing.

Registration for the conference is $30, which allows entrance into any conference meeting session. Advance registration is required by Dec. 20 to attend two meals, the exhibitor/grower luncheon on Jan. 5, and the awards luncheon on Jan. 6.

For a registration form and more information, go to www.ca.uky.edu/anr/PDF/2012FVC.pdf.